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Blindfolded Malleus

💚 summary: You edge Malleus while he's blindfolded ༶༶༶ 💚 warnings: gender neutral reader, you go to TOWN on those horns of his, brief mention of Malleus wanting to breed you, blowjob, penis in [gender neutral hole] sex, creampie ༶༶༶ 💚 word count: 6.6k words ༶༶༶ 💚 inspired by: @creepysun-cpsunnhild's ask thank you! ♡✧*:･ﾟ

Malleus sits patiently on his bed, hands clasped on his lap, buzzing with nervous excitement as he waits for you to join him. He is already stripped down to only his boxers, eager to begin the night's festivities.

"Are you nervous?" you ask him as you rummage around in your backpack before finally pulling out a silky black blindfold purchased from the secret backroom of Sam's shop.

Malleus blinks, mouth parting slightly in the way he does when surprised, "A little? This is rather... novel for me." His lips fall into a pout. "Being unable to see your face is strange. I won't get to enjoy your expression as you pleasure me..."

You zip up your backpack and saunter over to his bed where Malleus waits, boxers tented around the evidence that he is looking forward to this, despite his apprehensions. You flash him a mischievous smile as you crawl over to him on the bed, settling in a straddle across his thighs. "That will just force you to be more sensitive to my touch," you coo as you cup his soft, milky cheek in your hand, admiring the complete beauty of his face for a final moment before you blindfold him. As he returns your loving gaze, his slitted pupils start to widen from desire and you watch in awe as his verdant irises are completely swallowed by inky pools of hunger. “I promise you won't even miss my face in the heat of the moment,” you try to reassure him.

He scoffs before murmuring in a low, smoky voice, "You know me far better than that, child of man." And yet, despite his objections, he obediently tilts his chin down, lowering his lashes as he allows you to place the black silk over his face. Malleus inhales sharply as the light suddenly dims to complete darkness. He stills like a startled creature of the forest as his sight leaves him, his muscles tense and his eyelids twitch under the silk as he comes to terms with his new vulnerability. You stop straddling him, denying him the comforting warmth of your thighs against his as you crouch on your knees beside him. He growls as you refuse to indulge his lust, remaining perfectly still as he struggles to find his bearings. You want him to simmer with arousal before you ease his longing—a little frustration will make his eventual orgasm that much more satisfying.

His innate magical ability attempts to compensate for the obscuration of his eyes by granting him heightened senses that would guide him in a perilous situation. He finds himself hyper aware of the beating of your heart and the slow rhythmic cadence of your breathing. The tension between your still bodies grows palpable. Your heartbeats thrum synchronically with the silent yearning of two lovers desperate to press skin against skin. Malleus is so ethereally beautiful, your heart can’t help but leap every time you look at him. The black silk shrouding his vision only serves to emphasize the handsome cut of his jaw and his sharp, seductive lips, parted in breathless anticipation. The glossy fabric paints a dark tapestry against the snowy hues of his skin. A lock of his viridian hair slips along his forehead in a way that accentuates the graceful curve of his brow. Every fiber of his being drips with all the charms of an otherworldly prince, an untouchable enigma that transcends mortal understanding. Yet he sits there, completely bared to you, stripped of his power, a masterpiece defaced by a veil of cloth; a prize awaiting the taking.

Despite his lack of sight, he can feel your gaze on him like a physical caress, causing goosebumps to sprout across his alabaster skin and his ears and cheeks to bloom a flustered rose-red. He knows you are simply teasing him, but the sensation of being denied his favorite view of his beloved is utterly infuriating. Yet, something about being without your gaze stirs the desire within him. When your lovemaking has reached its peak in the past, the sight of your flushed cheeks and blissed out expression has made his blood run hot and has left him in the throes of the most pleasurable high. Not being able to gaze upon you will allow him to focus his whole being upon the ecstasy he feels every time he is brought to climax. This denial will amplify the sensations he will feel in the midst of passion and he finds himself anxiously anticipating how overwhelming those emotions might be. His cock grows harder and twitches excitedly at the thought and he bites his lip to contain the groans of arousal rising up in the back of his throat. Your proximity, despite him being unable to see your form, is positively maddening. Now that sight is taken away, the darkness is acting like an aphrodisiac. He wants nothing more than to lose himself to desire, touch, scent, and sound—to bring both of your hearts racing and be subsumed in an orgasmic trance. And so, the anticipation of the evening ahead courses through Malleus' body in electric tremors, setting his soul on fire. For someone with the lifespan of a fae, a moment is but a speck of sand on a shore, yet every minute you make him wait seems to drag into torturous eternity. He wants—no, he craves to take you and bask in the throes of passionate euphoria... Yet, he sits there, at the mercy of you and the unfolding events.

His growing sexual frustration sends a surge of wicked mischief through your blood as you crouch on the plush duvet alongside him. Malleus feels the bed shift and your body moving ever closer, then the caress of your hot breath tickling against his neck, near his sensitive ears, just a whisper away. He shudders deliciously as the phantom sensation of your moist, parted lips nears his bare shoulder, sending a chill through his entire body that culminates in a tingling tightness that pulses through his dick, which has reached full mast and throbs painfully in his boxers. Just as he is beginning to move his mouth to admonish you for such cruel teasing, his body suddenly jerks in surprise as he is overcome by the wet and gentle pressure of your mouth suckling ever so gently against his sensitive nape, right in that one spot, the one you know makes his knees turn to jelly. Malleus can't help the startled gasp that falls from his mouth as his body surrenders entirely, arching slightly at the pleasurable sensation, head lulling back just a little. He shivers as your palms ghost across his bare chest in a featherlight graze, sighing as his muscles are soothed by the balmy smoothness of your hands. You seem intent on teasing his neck—tugging, suckling, kissing, licking—and the teasing wet heat and gentle suction against his throat drives him to near delirium. The muscles of his neck tense as he gulps down heavy breaths, and you revel in the sound of him fighting desperately to contain his lust, your mouth quirking up into a smirk against his throat. His head leans back further to grant you more access to his soft flesh, and he resists the urge to stroke himself, biting his lower lip as your kisses start to descend along his pectorals, your tongue teasing at a hardened nipple before continuing to worship him down his abdominal muscles to the dip of his hips and eventually stopping just short of where he really wants it. Malleus is panting, almost as if in time with his throbbing member as it demands attention, yet your fingers remain above the waistband, tempting him.

"Keep going," he commands quietly, craving more than your hesitant brushes, his heart quickening at the sound of your own racing pulse. You have found a delicious torment in delaying him, and his inability to see your next move has caused his whole body to come alive. Malleus bites his lower lip harder, nearly breaking skin to maintain his self control as your fingertips barely push at the elastic band of his underwear, your nails only teasing the thin trail of hair below his navel. The tiniest contact is overwhelming on his skin, leaving a blazing trail in the wake of the featherlight touch, and a trembling warmth deep within him as his desire crescendos. Every part of him is suddenly alert, drinking up the ambiance, the muffled silence only adding an ethereal atmosphere of mystique to his hazy world of arousal and delight. "My love, please give me more," he begs. The strained edge in his voice stirs the rising excitement within you and your core aches at his ardent need. A little hitch in your breath catches his attention. Without the ability to watch your expressions, his sharp ears have begun to strain to hear every indication of arousal from you.

A bratty whine escapes Malleus' pouting lips as you completely withdraw your hands, body heat disappearing as you leave him exposed. The void of your warmth leaves him cold, an abyss to match his own darkness, yet he is lost for words as your mouth finds his erect cock through the fabric of his boxers, swallowing his bulge, the friction of your dampened tongue against him shooting straight to his balls. Your saliva bleeds through the cloth in a thick stain as you use your mouth to slowly torture him, knowing this is driving him insane. A jumble of pants and unintelligible phrases fall from the normally reserved Malleus' mouth and his hands fist themselves in the bedsheets, threatening to rip them in his pent-up ecstasy, knuckles stark white in strain as he groans. Your relentless hot and wet pressure on his erection is turning him into a salacious mess, but it's not nearly enough—he's desperate to feel your skin and a feral growl rattles around in his throat. His instinctive need to seize control of the situation becomes clouded in the heady fog of the erotic pleasure that your touches instill within him, a thrall he's unfamiliar with but too far gone to resist. When he thinks he can't stand the sweetly agonizing tease any longer, your lips pull away, leaving him wanting for your moist, breathy heat to return to him. Malleus whines piteously, squirming in place in silent desperation, fists tightly balled.

Your heart soars when you hear him making these vulnerable little noises of absolute submission to his craving for your body—as much as you know his primal urges are telling him to toss you onto his lap and take you, his dedication to your sadistic game prevents his true lusts from prevailing. He wants to ravage you, to gorge himself on your flesh as you scream his name into his pillows, to bite down on the crook of your neck when he's plunging deep within your hot, aching depth. Instead, he endures his cock's ceaseless torment.

As you contemplate your next course of action, your eyes settle on the enigmatic vestigial holdover from his ancestors—his horns. Growing directly from his skull and twisting in two thick curves adorned with glowing flecks of opulent teal, they frame his beautiful visage with an unmistakable air of eerie mystique. Intrigued by the sharp, slender peaks, you straddle Malleus' lap once again, his aching need nudging up against your clothed sex and making him groan from the limited pleasure he finally receives. He never eluded to any sensuality about the pointed projections adoring his head, but your curious lust can't help but wonder if they're erogenous. It certainly wouldn't surprise you if the fearsome protrusions were a weakness for your beautiful and powerful lover. If they could invoke in him a tantalizing rush of decadent sensation, they would surely aid you in his titillation. His previous words of caution ring in your mind—"You're welcome to touch them… though I can't guarantee what would happen to you if you did."—yet your perversion yearns to test out your theory.

You slowly lean your bodyweight towards his head until he feels you looming over him, your body's warmth fanning over his face and giving a comforting presence to his empty, disoriented world. The hint of a smirk curls at the corner of his lips as he begins to tilt his face, wrongfully expecting a kiss. Malleus had suspected your lusts would soon get the better of you and would ultimately yield him the rapture he seeks. You don't even notice the way his mouth opens slightly, wet, plush lips eagerly awaiting yours. The air between you two is electric with a smoldering, simmering need, threatening to spark into something raging. However, you swerve his inviting kiss, instead placing both your hands firmly against each horn, beginning a gentle massage on the cool bone. You can’t help but grin in prideful victory when a yelp falls from Malleus' lips and he bucks upwards, his hips suddenly snapping with wild impulse in a carnal attempt to sheathe his engorged cock within the beckoning warmth of your tight hole. Malleus' shocked gasp shifts into a guttural, feral sound. His blood is filled with electricity and lust, the lewd sounds emanating from deep within him like a forbidden spell of obscene delight.

The rumble of his inhuman grumble rolls through his entire chest, and the vibration of the low, loud noise goes straight to your throbbing sex. His reaction to you is deliciously intense, and you begin to twist and rub your thumb and index finger around the ridges of the horns, tracing the shapes and sending tiny shivers down Malleus' spine. You watch him, holding your breath in captivated awe as his upper lip lifts into a snarl and his bottom lip falls, allowing another dirty, draconic growl to spill out. The blackness of his vision leaves his mind no choice but to sink deeper into carnal euphoria, his mouth hanging agape and eyes rolling behind his blindfold, the pale skin of his cheeks becoming flushed as he drowns in the overwhelming sensations that consume him entirely. You run your fingernail up and down the sides of his horns simultaneously with a tantalizing tickle, and Malleus' head jerks in your grasp, neck muscles tense with shock from how amazingly sensitive this area of him is. With a naughty grin you plant a messy, wet kiss on one horn, then drag your teeth along the slick surface while your fingers begin a slow, erotic massage where the base of his horn meets the tender skin of his scalp. A downright depraved string of nonsensical, fragmented curses of ecstasy tumble from Malleus' throat. As his primal urge to breed overrides any common sense, the harsh sting of claws dig into the delicate skin of your forearms.

Your caress on his horns is like having the tips of every nerve of his being stimulated at once. His hips start thrusting almost automatically, as though his brain no longer commands him with any sort of reason. His desires take full control, acting on instinct to rut against anything and everything, and a hot ache ripples through his nether regions. The undergarment that traps him from absolute nirvana becomes uncomfortably tight, as his manhood pushes the limits of what the cotton material can bear. A damp and translucent stain of precum has bled through onto the fabric. His mind is swirling with a heady cocktail of lust, love, and urgency—the absence of sight heightening every aspect, every molecule of physical joy, creating a searing, constant arousal deep within him. At last, you have coaxed your regal Prince to reach a whole new state of passion.

You can feel yourself becoming more aroused with each erotic sound you draw from Malleus' throat, as your love for him is mixed with your innate masochism to torture and tease, causing a molten heat to blossom within you. Unable to deny him any longer, you let your lips fall to his mouth and Malleus eagerly reciprocates without hesitation, the heat between the two of you almost unbearable. Teeth clash as he hungrily devours your lips and his arms fly to pull you close so he may sink himself into your flesh and keep you for an eternity, one arm slipping to your lower back and pressing you towards him, his other hand weaving itself through your soft locks. This is what Malleus longed for: the warmth, the wetness, and the sinful slide of your tongue against his. His heart is set ablaze as you grip onto his face, cradling the beloved contours in an almost desperate plea to be as near him as possible, wanting to hold your lover to your body until he melts within you. His deep, sonorous moans of lecherous longing resonate throughout your whole body, echoing in the cavern of your very soul until it makes your heart weep with an overwhelming love and passion. You realize now, more than ever, how dear this fae Prince is to you, how absolutely crucial he has become for your every living moment. As Malleus hungrily chases every ounce of physical sensation he can achieve through the one person that matters the most to him, he feels the exact same love and desperation well in him and pour into his kiss, transmitting his emotions back to you. The blindfold begins to dampen from his overflowing tears as the magnitude of your passion for him stirs a surge of affection and desire that nearly rips his beating heart out of his chest. He clutches you ever closer as a small sob rises up, overcome by his love for the beguiling little mortal whose unconditional acceptance and magical charms have entranced him since day one. You drink up his ardent devotion like a life-sustaining elixir.

Eventually, you break the kiss with a moan and slide off his body, and he mourns your warmth against him, a lonely tear absorbing into the silk. Malleus cannot contain a whimper, as his blood pulses so fiercely, a carnal and primal drive floods his being. It is beyond lust, beyond physical desire—you have reignited the very core of who he is as an eternal, draconic prince and have reminded him of the fire that beats within his breast. His body aches and throbs in equal amounts sexual and emotional passion, his need to release so intense that his breaths come in short, quick pants. His muscles spasm uncontrollably from the sensations running rampant in every extremity, and he sobs with pent-up desire, clawing at the duvet as though it would relieve the ceaseless, tortuous pressure that plagues him. His heart yearns, yet his libido aches, the girth of his dick straining against his waistband like a caged animal desperate to break free from its bindings and let the true beast emerge.

A relieved sigh escapes him when, a moment later, your cool, soft hands dip below the elastic of his boxers and gently slide them down and off. His erect cock slaps against his stomach, weeping pearls of precum and glistening from the prolonged sexual torture of the evening, standing at full attention. Its girthy length twitches with impatience. One teasing fingertip just barely grazes its tip, gathering the beads of lust and dragging them along his length. A strained yelp forces its way out of Malleus' parched and trembling lips, and his whole body tenses, toes curling. The sheets are being pulled in the violent vice grip of his fists, the sheer force of his magical grip threatening to rip them in half. You begin to languidly trace along his shaft at a tantalizingly slow and soft pace, driving him out of his mind. It's barely enough contact to get any satisfaction, yet far more than enough to make him jolt at the blissful sparks that you ignite within him. You ghost your breath across the length, blowing air on his heated flesh as a paltry reward to Malleus' plight. He cries your name in a pitchy, agonized tone as your hands pull away and he tries not to sob with frustration at the lack of touch. Before he can complain, a new, torturous sensation wracks his frame: the phantasmagoric feeling of soft, pillowy lips dragging against the tip of his shaft, eliciting a filthy whine and a throaty gasp. He feels more wet heat around his sensitive glans as your tongue bathes the area with hot saliva, savoring the briny taste of his essence, then leaving him abruptly. You're far too much of a tease, giving him just a sample before pulling away. His balls feel painfully swollen as he reaches his limit and his member seizes with another sharp throb of arousal.

And then, with a wet squelch, the heat of your mouth descends onto the entirety of his rock-hard erection, taking him all in to the hilt. Your cheeks hallow to create suction as your tongue swirls around his engorged tip and your throat relaxes as his length is buried down your throat, holding your breath and stifling your gag reflex for a brief moment before bobbing your head up and down, fucking his hard dick with your mouth and salivating profusely over his thick length. The sweetly sinful sensation of his throbbing erection buried deep down your esophagus causes his mind to shut off, his brain short-circuiting from the intensity of pleasure. Your talented tongue swirls and twirls around the mushroom tip while your hands massage up and down along his shaft, working his flesh in synchronous harmony, threatening to break him down into a quivering mess under the expertise of your skilled mouth. It's absolutely obscene, how willingly your jaw hangs wide for him, how you guzzle up every inch of his thick cock as though he's the best meal of your life.

Now that you have him back where you want him, you take your time torturing him by switching your rhythm every time his groans begin to sound too desperate, denying him the relief his poor aching cock so desperately craves. You gently guide his shaft upright with a tug of your hand, angling his thick cock directly into your mouth and ensuring you completely envelop his tip in your throat. Every time you hollow your cheeks and move his throbbing erection in and out of your mouth at a vigorous pace, Malleus is unable to hold his voice back. He tosses his head back, letting your tongue lavish the underside of his cock. The velvety heat of your tongue sweeps from the base all the way to his glans, lapping across his slit before wrapping your lips around his thick girth again. Your tongue meticulously teases and suckles on his sweet spots, knowing that because of his loss of vision he is acutely aware of every change in pressure, every shift in the path of your tongue, and every powerful stroke of your hand. You have successfully reduced the unshakeable Prince of Thorns into a mess of low moans and ragged, staccato breaths. Your name comes out in pleading pants, like he's calling to you to take his seed and give him the relief he desires so desperately. Your sucking and swirling heat pulls Malleus' balls up closer, tight and ready, his member starting to spasm as his end rushes ever nearer.

"Dearest..." Malleus murmurs as softly as possible, shuddering as pleasure lances through him like lightning, barely audible above the squelches and wet smacks, his hips bucking frantically now, "I beg of you... Please, do not be cruel. I cannot—please." You know how sensitive he is to touch, his every nerve is so over stimulated, and his blindness is making everything hit a whole new level.

"That's enough—hnnnng. This is far too much for me to handle... You're truly evil for using my body like this—oh, do not stop—" A litany of indecencies flow forth in an increasingly erratic rhythm to accompany the melodious cadence of his dulcet moans. Every time you push his length down your throat, he thinks you've given up playing around and finally decided to let him spill his hot load, only for you to relent at the last second and reduce your fervency. He curses your name, promising retaliation later in the form of the most passionate fucking of your entire life. The cruel torture begins anew with a playful kiss on his tip or a lewd slurp at the base of his cock as your hands fondle and caress him. It is almost inhuman the level of control his child of man has to be able to push him close to the edge and retreat with surgical precision, again and again, leaving him in complete anguish.

The hard tip of his cock slams the back of your throat, threatening to suffocate your breath and sending a deluge of saliva trickling down his swollen balls and slickening your lips. He cannot suppress the rough and rapid snapping of his hips against you, plunging his penis to the very end, every lunge making you gag. When you swallow and clench your throat around his length, Malleus' breaths dissolve into frantic wheezes, his chest heaving, unable to even finish his sentence before his lungs are sucked empty in ecstasy. Your hands cup the heavy, weighted balls beneath, fingers and nails digging in slightly before gripping onto his ass as you swallow around his entire girth, pumping his dick in rhythm with his thrusts as if to milk him and show no mercy. Your muffled squeals of encouragement spur Malleus on, the sounds you're making giving him permission to use your mouth like his own personal fuck-toy, his own filthy fantasy. His eyes squeeze shut behind the blindfold as the red, pulsing void suddenly fills with the vivid memory of the look on your face the last time he pounded your face so mercilessly, that wonderful face all covered in his seed, cheeks dripping with his creamy splatter. He moans brokenly as his fantasies meld with reality in the blinding darkness. The sheer act of being able to fully appreciate and wallow in the sense of absolute decadent delight his beloved grants him, as well as your own enthusiasm for him—all these sensations surge forth in a mighty torrent. Malleus knows you're preparing to build him up to a devastating peak of passion.

With a firm yet gentle grip, you dig the tips of your fingers into the ample flesh of your lover's thighs, feeling their toned rippling as you keep him in place. Your fingernails sink a little, creating faint, red trails in your wake, marking Malleus' flawless skin as evidence of your claim over his body. Without warning, his hard length slips out of your wet lips with an obscene pop, and the fae Prince whimpers once more from the cold drafts of the dorm room settling over his sopping, saliva-coated member. 

Before he has any time to register the shock of the loss, the bedsheets shift again under your movements as you swiftly remove your underwear before returning to position on your knees outside of his open legs. He holds his breath, eagerly anticipating the impending penetration of his lover's deepest parts and the messy release of the tight knot of sexual desire within the pit of his stomach. A baritone, satisfied groan bursts from the depths of Malleus' lungs as your warmth encases his erection, sheathing his dick in an endless flow of slippery heat and the most luxurious pressure. It is one of his favorite pleasures to hold you close after having penetrated your deepest core and simply stay there to savor the ecstatic sensations. Nothing can replicate the pure feeling of euphoric fulfillment and unadulterated bliss when your lower half is connected as closely as it possibly can with his—both of your intimate zones smoldering in the ecstasy of total conjoining, bodies becoming one and unified, your souls entwined in a kiss. His toes curl and his muscles shudder, but before he can adjust, you start moving, using your hips to ride his lap.

Your thighs settle snugly around Malleus' hips, your weight rocking forward to penetrate your loins deeper on his member and envelop every inch of him until his hard cock reaches the deepest regions of your core. Malleus can barely comprehend what's going on, his mind drowning in an ocean of the purest pleasure, his hands searching desperately for yours as you place his palms on either side of your waist for a good grip. His lover's palms, made small by the bulk of his own, have only moments ago been manipulating his sensitive erection and granting him such euphoria. To touch the very appendages that have stimulated him, to hold you steady, to feel the love that flows through the both of you—the thrill of the experience sets Malleus' mind into overdrive, the preciousness of his time together with you compounding with his heightened physical sensations in a stunning synthesis. A symphony of sexy, wet noises of colliding bodies, creaking mattress, and throaty gasps and moans echo throughout his lonely, shadowy abyss, and Malleus feels as though his senses are being pleasurably overwhelmed. Malleus shoves his cock ever deeper within, nudging against the slick flesh with feverish abandon. He becomes desperate for an even tighter hold, urging your body to submit to him and drown in bliss. As his dick pumps into your sweet, greedy, and dripping hole with zealous thrusts, your combined rhythm becomes lost to the utter delirium of rapture as the fae's raw instincts to rut you senseless take over. The Prince of Darkness doesn't hold anything back— he thrusts up into your body with full and furious strokes, growls turning animalistic, cock pounding with merciless thrusts, and balls slapping against the juncture of your thighs.

You can barely handle the sheer thickness of Malleus' dick inside of you, its girth is massive. It stretches your walls and massages every part of you, the large ridge along his cock's underside scraping against your insides with every relentless slam. The slightest movement sends fireworks shooting through you and drives you insane, the heated passion causing a powerful buildup of pleasure already. Your gasps rise in volume, turning into shrieks as you give him your body entirely. One of his hands trails up from your waist, the rough and calloused fingertips ghost across your collarbone and up the curve of your neck. His head is tossed back from the carnal fucking but those elegant, sharp fingernails linger over your pulse, feeling the way blood beats under your skin and listening for the hitch of breath every time the angle of his cock rubs up against something magical inside of you.

Malleus is constantly shifting his position, driving his huge dick into the different angles with practiced efficiency as he listens intently for where to thrust harder, to where your breathing is quickest, and where he gets the loudest moans. The noise echoes back to him like the raunchiest opera. It leaves you shaking on him as he explores you with his cock, the sheer intensity of his frenzied ministrations threatening to make your eyes roll into the back of your head. Every single slam of his dick draws you to the edge of the pleasure-bound chasm, as waves of satisfaction ripple throughout every fiber of your being.

His large, sturdy hands have never left your form and cling possessively. When he lets go, it's to scrape his claws down the tops of your shoulders before seizing you tightly once more. With his thighs tense, his strong muscles drive up into you at a merciless speed, over and over. A throttled roar is building in the pit of Malleus' chest. At the top of your lungs, you scream out his name. There is no room for your thoughts, only the constant stream of the lust-drenched fog and the instinctive urge to reach your peak. Malleus' talons scratch down your back before grabbing onto the tops of your asscheeks and forcing your lower bodies impossibly closer together. Malleus bites your neck while simultaneously drilling his cock as deep as he can possibly go before pausing there, grinding into you and groaning. Your bodies move together in tandem, a wet dance that staves off your looming orgasms for a few more thrusts and moans.

Through the blinding white ecstasy, you can vaguely hear the haughty prince remarking how perfectly he fits and feels inside you. Between your moans and the slapping sound, his breathy laugh cuts through the room and brushes hot against the crook of your neck, teasing, "Your insides... tighten when I praise you..." Your walls immediately squeeze him on reflex at those words. This discovery of another weakness brings him closer, more ravenous, a little bit more wild with the need to take and claim. His face buries into your skin and his tongue flicks out against your neck, drinking up the salt of your sweat as he nips, bites, and sucks his mark there. Malleus wants to fill your greedy hole with his seed, mark his territory, make it absolutely clear that you are his forever by stuffing you full until his cum trickles from the very corners of you and soaks into the silken sheets of his bed. He pants and growls lewdly, plundering into you like a heathen and abandoning any sense of shame as he fully lets go of all composure. The guttural moans and bestial noises escaping his throat reverberate like music in your ears. They signal that the gorgeous prince is drawing dangerously near his edge. The primal urges you have summoned from him command his every thought and his body reacts instantaneously to all the stimulation you've given him thus far. Your mouth falls open, wanton moans now turning into shameless screaming. You match the intensity with which Malleus throws his entire body into the movements of fucking your hole. Malleus doesn't allow your body a single moment's rest as he thoroughly ruins you—each carnal rut and frenetic pound of his manhood into your core sets fire to your whole being, reducing your soul to ash in the passion's wake. His engorged, reddened tip abuses your g-spot to the point that your walls can't even tighten around him anymore due to being so utterly overwhelmed by his dick.

Malleus' heart jackhammers against his ribs and a sound that can only be described as a primal, draconic cry roars out. Thick, creamy spurts of his warm seed paint your inner walls white as his balls pulse and churn, filling you up so generously. The depth of your love and adoration has finally ripped the fae's last threads of restraint to shreds, unleashing his true self—wild, uncontrollable, feral—and the transcendent bliss leaves him howling your name in a voice more akin to a monster than a beautiful Prince. You throw your head back, feeling every muscle of your inner body clench in delicious contractions as you, too, reach the precipice, gushing all over him. All you can manage is to sink onto his thick, throbbing cock and just quake with the intense force of your orgasmic bliss, your legs spasming around him as you milk his twitching shaft.

Every wave of your orgasm sends him into his next. Your loud wails of pure pleasure are music to his ears. He growls and thrusts against you, eager to ensure you have been completely and utterly defiled with his load. The exhilaration and anticipation that was building all night finally peaks, and the intensity is just right to leave the both of you in an tangled afterglow of sweaty, quivering limbs. All he can see are swirling spots of magical color swimming in front of the blinding black of his blindfold. Every sense becomes a blurry haze. When he finds enough control over his quivering frame, Malleus holds you up and close to him, refusing to slip out from your body, letting you come to rest against his strong, tender embrace and gently stroking your hair as you nestle your forehead in the crook of his neck, nestled so comfortably between his head and shoulder. Malleus begins peppering your face and the exposed parts of your shoulder with butterfly kisses, his ragged breaths tickling your skin.

"My love..." the Prince purrs as you languidly snuggle into him, "You will never know what you've just done to me. I have felt so utterly and undeniably wanted, needed, desired." His strong arms embrace you, so gentle and loving and soft, it makes your heart beat a little bit faster and fills you up with an immense, powerful feeling. "You have made my existence feel absolutely perfect and wonderful, more so than I deserve." His voice grows thick and warm, full of tender affection as he adds, "Please, cherish me forever. I will pledge myself to you for as long as I live." 

He pulls the blindfold over his head, his eyelids fluttering open to meet your soft gaze and reveal his magnificent, emerald hues and smoldering, lust-drunk slitted pupils. You fall in love with him all over again, smiling brightly as you are greeted by your beloved Prince's elation at seeing your beautiful face once more. Malleus lifts his palm and tucks a lock of your hair behind the lobe of your ear, leaving his knuckles there for a few extra moments as he enjoys the flush and shimmer on your features, admiring the love of his life with all the admiration in the world.

Malleus' eyes spark with renewed mischief and he chuckles mischievously, the deep, smooth sound rolling with velvet menace. "No mortal has ever had this sort of control over me before. The experience was rather... illicit, and strangely beguiling. A little unexpected, however, when you nearly choked me with my own horns." A single sharp claw tips your chin upwards. "How lucky, indeed, am I to be fortunate enough to have you, the first person I ever held my heart out to, be so wicked to me. You were quite merciless tonight." His lascivious grin twists devilishly, and you find yourself enthralled with a certain mix of terror and rapture, unable to keep a devilish smirk of your own from twitching your own lips.

You had known that taking him away from the world for a brief moment of darkness would make his whole body light up like a star and let him truly lose himself to you, but you never would have predicted how viscerally it would affect him. Even so, it pleases you to have fulfilled your fae Prince's perverse needs. You kiss the tip of his nose and he smiles his sharp smile. "Now that you've revealed such a sinful aspect of yourself to me, you'll be the one beneath my power next time we indulge."

The playful menace in his smile doesn't quite mask the serious note in his voice. Malleus is absolutely determined to reciprocate the things he enjoyed receiving in equal measure. It was almost like his own hidden, dangerous desires had awoken when you dragged him down the path of depravity, and a new wave of perversion courses through him at the thought of transforming you into his own plaything. Your throat goes dry, knowing his strength and his kinky side may finally have been unshackled from its cage, and the fae might devour you without the restraint and kindness of his moralities to hold him back. His handsome features betray nothing of his sadistic plans—all you can see are his glorious, flashing eyes glimmering with mischief, and the dangerous upturn of his mouth. There's no telling how much Malleus Draconia has planned for you, and for a brief moment, you wonder if perhaps you'd created a bit of a monster with tonight's exploration.

Let me know if you all enjoyed this! Some Fun Erica Lore™ is that I have total aphantasia—I can't visualize (images or sounds) at all. So, I think because of that, I tend to be very descriptive with my words, since I can't visualize the scene in my head. Also, because I don't have visual memory, I do not remember memories or daydreams in a visual way, instead, I remember them by the feeling I felt in that moment (or the feeling I would feel if a situation was happening to me). Because I feel things so deeply, I like to convey the power of emotions in my writing. I hope I was able to elicit a strong emotional response from you. As always, thank you for reading. Every day, I continue to be awestruck by the outpouring of love and support I've received from you all. Thank you for welcoming my writing into this lovely community. Until next time, 💚 Erica Malleleothreesome

[arazune]

Curiosity - Demon Aemond x Fem Reader

Summary: You never repressed your curiosity. But when it leads you to summon a demon you think it might be time for some changes.

Anne's note: Guess who came back after disappearing forever? Me, in case you didn't know :3 Anyway, I'm not even going to try to explain what's been going on in my life lately. I will speak of this story instead. I swear, if I had any doubts that I was going to hell, I don't anymore. So who else is coming with me?

Ps. The summoning part was slightly inspired by a Japanese novel called Fate/Zero.

Before proceeding, please be aware that this story contains dark content. Proceed with caution.

READ THE WARNINGS!!!

English is not my first language.

Warnings: +18, nsfw, fem!reader, dubcon, summon topics, teasing, size kink, mind control, possessiveness, innocence kink, dominant Aemond, fingering, sex (p in v), angst, insecurity, oral sex, evil tail use, anal fingering, collar, pet names...

'Curiosity killed the cat', they say.

You never believed in such a saying. Curiosity by no means should be a discouraged notion, in your opinion. Indeed, curiosity and the desire for knowledge were perhaps the only constants in your life; an almost tangible feeling you could trust. It was your thirst to know more that had gotten your this far, despite all the shit that had been thrown in your lap along the way. You didn't understand why you should repress such feelings when they surfaced.

Of course, you didn't know at the time that by thinking that thought you would be hammering the final nail into your own coffin.

It took a few countless and exhausting stair climbs and descents until all the cardboard boxes were inside your new apartment. For your usual karmic system, the building's old elevator was being serviced the very day you moved in. Still, you were happy. Even though your thighs were burning and trembling and sweat was trickling down your hairline, the grin that stretched across your face was so ridiculously wide it hurt your cheeks.

The place was finally all yours.

It was yours. You bought it with your money, with the sweat of your work and the effort of your hands. It wasn't a five-star hotel, of course, and anyone with eyes would have noticed that the place was in need of decoration and renovation. But you just adored it.

There was something there that captivated you from the first visit, although you couldn't say what.

Though for some reason only you seemed to hold that opinion.

When you'd brought your friend over to show her your future investment, she'd told you bluntly that the place was odd in a frightening way, and that for the same price you could find something better. The comment had shaken the expression of absolute happiness that had been on your face for a few seconds. Yes, there were a few cobwebs on the walls, the windows were in need of cleaning and the floors were in dire need of waxing. Did you know that. But couldn't she see the potential?

Of course you ignored her opinion after that, cutting the visit short and dismissing her as quickly as possible. Your decision was already made.

This would be your home and you wouldn't let anyone's opinion spoil it.

You didn't get help on moving day - not that you was surprised. You counted on yourself, you always have been and always will be.

That night, with a bottle of wine, good music, and a sense of freshness that bordered on innocence, you set about cleaning and tidying up as many things as you could in your new home. Opened box after box you were taking that place for yourself.

The house was clean, without any object or item from former residents. You had made sure of that on previous visits. And that's why when organizing the shelves where your books and other smaller objects would be, you were surprised to find a kind of worn-out diary. It was wedged between wall and shelf, and if you weren't being thorough in your cleaning, you wouldn't have seen it.

You tried to pull the diary as gently as possible, afraid of tearing it due to the fragile appearance it maintained. But when your fingers touched the edges of the cover you felt nothing but resistance, surprising. At that moment, with the object between your fingers, an icy current of air passed through the room, ruffling your hair and raising your skin, making you immediately look at the window, mumbling about forgetting to close it.

Only it was closed.

With a narrowing of your eyes and a strange feeling in your chest, you turned your attention to the object in hand. It was almost inflexible, it was also heavy for a book that didn't appear to have that many pages. You clicked your tongue, turning the book between your fingers, scratching the unfamiliar words on the cover with your fingernails.

Of course, in your defense, you wouldn't have done what you did if you'd actually known what you were doing. Unfortunately for you, you've always been far more curious than careful, and instead of throwing away the stupid and obviously suspicious book, you opened it. There was no harm in reading an old book after all.

Except there was.

Evil itself lived in that book, you just didn't know it yet.

The letters were elegant and painted in red, a bright, vivid red like fresh blood, very jumbled words in an ancient, dark language that you decidedly couldn't decipher. Your curiosity was amplified by this knowledge, obviously, and soon you were carrying that old diary around, tucked away and well protected in your work bag or against your chest. The desire to decipher its meaning burned under your skin, an irritating itch you knew wouldn't stop until you discovered its secrets. It was an obsession.

After four long weeks of adapting to your new home and work, exhausting hours spent in the library doing research and many visits to sites of at least dubious origins, you finally found some kind of online translator for that bizarre language. Excited and feeling proud of your own persistence, you let your phone's camera roll over the strange words, almost jumping up and down with excitement when you realized that the translation did indeed come automatically.

Your brow furrowed as you noticed that the words didn't make any real sense when read in isolation, even translated you still didn't understand what the damn diary was about. So you stretched your patience as long as you could, writing the translated words on a notepad until the text was ready to be read.

When a few paragraphs were translated and your patience could no longer be contained, you held the paper between your fingers up to the line of sight, muttering the slowly written words:

"Hear my words, Dragon. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you will accept to lead the call and obey my will and reason, then answer my summons. I swear it. I swear I will be all in your world. That my soul from that moment on will be linked to yours, for eternity. But let your vision be clouded with the fog of turmoil and chaos. You, who have been trapped in this cage of madness for so long. And I, the summoner, who now break your chains.

Respond now to my summons, mighty Dragon."

In the exact second that the last word left your lips the air current from other night was back, but this time more intense and hotter, opening the pages of your books that were lying on the floor and ruffling the curtains of the windows. A barely audible whisper sounded eerily close to your left ear, a warm, wet breath raising the hairs on the back of your neck, making you turn your head fast enough to cause a snap. Your heart was racing now, an oddity and unnaturalness snaking through the air in an almost tangible way.

Your eyes were wide, darting around the room in search of what caused it. But of course there was nothing around you, you were as alone as ever.

"Okay...that was interesting." You sighed shakily, smiling softly as you shook your head, the wine definitely taking effect. A shower and a well-deserved rest was all you needed tonight. "No more wine for you today, young lady."

You were trying to laugh at your own predicament, shrugging your shoulders and picking things up to head to the bathroom, trying your best to be blasé in the face of something bizarre. But the nervous knot in your stomach and the pounding of your heart remained as fluttering as before, even as you stepped under the spray of the shower, eyes stinging with suds as you held them stubbornly open because you just couldn't shake the horrible feeling of being watched.

That night you didn't sleep.

The next night you managed to doze off, much overcome by fatigue, but your sleep was unstable and frightening; flashes of white hair and claws, blood and fire, whispers wafting through the air.

"Such a sweet little thing."

A low, sensual voice, too close to your ear - and you jolt yourself awake, alarmed from your already disturbed sleep. You swear you can feel that warm breath on your skin again. You spin around in bed, panic bile rising in your stomach. However, when you look around you, the full moon outside only casts its dim light on the meager furniture you own.

You struggle to stay sane over the next few two weeks, trying not to attach any grandiose significance when you realize the strange diary has simply disappeared. As much as you search the whole house looking for the object, you can't find it anywhere. It was as if it had never existed.

If you had someone you could trust to vent to, you would have told them everything that was going on. You wanted to hear from someone other than yourself that it wasn't a big deal. Most likely it was all a hallucinatory invention of your stressed and overworked mind. You desperately needed to hear this, because with each passing day you knew you were swinging tighter on the tightrope of your own sanity. You were especially afraid of the nights, hours when the oddities tended to happen more intensely, causing you to get to the point of inventing random tasks to stay at work longer and postpone going home - that house you were so proud of having bought for you some time ago, that house that now only served to scare you.

Of course, that only worked up to a point, and eventually you'd be back in that place, alone and vulnerable once more.

"Oh, you poor, scared little lamb. I can hear your little teeth chattering from here...it's a little pathetic, if you ask me." He mocks you, plays with your feelings.

In a deliberate effort you try to keep your breathing under control, even though your heart is pounding like a jackhammer in your chest. The shuffling footsteps and the agonizing sound of claws slowly scraping the walls of your apartment make you shiver under the thick blanket you've pulled over your entire body - including your head - in an almost childish attempt to protect yourself from whatever it is... this, which is on the other side of the wall.

No, you wouldn't dare come out of your hiding, completely unprepared to face the source of such disturbing sounds.

You've been playing blind for some time now, it's true. Ignoring the oddities around the house; ignoring how your belongings would simply disappear from where you had placed them at times, only to appear in a completely different location. Or how a shadow could be seen in your peripheral vision in a few moments and simply disappear in the next second.

It was strange, to be sure, but you kept repeating it over and over again that there was a logical explanation behind it, even as your own resolve wavered each day. But it was for your own sanity that you struggled to ignore the unusual activity, blaming it on your exhaustion. In fact, it was all you could do, because otherwise you would have to consider other options that you were not sure you would like in reality. Instead, it was easier to blame it on lack of sleep and a forgetful mind. And for a while it worked. But that was your mistake.

Your curiosity and stubbornness in seeing the obvious brought you here.

The sound of a painting falling in the hallway outside your bedroom made you snap out of your thoughts and jump in fright, whimpering softly and squeezing your eyes shut so hard that bright spots danced in your head.

Though you've been plagued by oddities for days, until tonight it's never been like this. It had always been more subtle signs, things that sent your mind on edge and made you question your own lucidity. But not today, he – whatever was out there – wasn't being subtle. He was making it clear that he was there.

"Please, please go away…" You whispered, putting your hands over your ears to stop any more of the horrifying sounds from reaching you. But even with such an effort, you heard a cold laugh resonate through the walls almost immediately in response to your pathetic plea - the sound bouncing through the wall and your fingers pressing your ears easily, seeping into your mind like smoke in the air.

No, none of that could be ignored or logically explained away, not after tonight, not since many days to be honest. You were stupid, so so stupid. Closing your eyes to something that from the beginning proved to be dangerous.

It was obvious that the thing…whatever it was...that was out there was tired of being ignored.

"Ready to finally see me, human?"

It sounded vaguely human, and yet so far from being. So out of character. Severe and smoky...wrong.

Would that be the price of your skeptical pride, anyway?

No more mind games, no more crumbs on the floor.

He came to take your life.

You felt it in your bones.

And all because you read a fuck diary.

"No, please," you cried, vaguely aware of the creaking sound of the door opening to your left, but paying no attention as your whole body shook with your eyes squeezed shut, preparing for a lonely, bloody death. He was in your bedroom, finally getting tired of playing games. You knew that now there was nothing you could do but wait for the inevitable.

So you waited.

And waited. And waited.

But there was nothing else.

If it weren't for the sound of your own rapid breathing, the room would have been completely silent.

You couldn't tell how much time had passed while you shivered under the covers, but little by little your breathing was closer to steady and your eyes opened to stare into the pitch blackness of your makeshift hiding place.

You waited a few more minutes, listening for the slightest suspicious noise. But there was nothing else.

It was a stupid decision and you knew it was, but slowly your fingers pulled the covers off your face, cautiously arranging your still trembling body so that you were now sitting on the bed. You scanned the room as much as you could in the partial moonlight, scouring the darkest corners for something you didn't even know what it was.

There was an unnaturalness to your bedroom, a wrong sense of silence that made your hair stand on end and kept your heart racing.

Apparently there was nothing different, yes, but somehow you knew he was there.

And then you saw it.

Your eyes narrowed into a corner covered in darkness, a darkness different from the normal darkness that covered the surroundings due to the late hour. If you squinted, you could see how the shadows in that corner moved slowly, a slow, smoky dance, like tentacles in water, something subtle that would go unnoticed if you weren't so hyper focused on finding something suspicious.

The muscle inside your chest was beating like a drum, almost hurting your ribcage, and your eyes widened as you saw something emerging from within the shadows.

The first thing you saw were bare feet sticking out of the darkness - black nails and pale skin.

Looking up, you noticed that the creature was wearing light black pants.

And that was all the clothes he wore.

Chest and abdomen as pale as the most ethereal ivory statue were freely on display, muscles carved obviously and sharply into every square inch beneath his pale skin. Strong shoulders and arms, with streaks of veins high up their length. He was tall - much taller than you, you think - his size and physical strength exuding freely from his pores even though he was immobile.

You forced your eyes to keep climbing towards his face and the sight made you gasp softly.

He had a sharp jaw, delicate features and yet so striking; a long, angular nose, high cheekbones, and well-shaped eyebrows. Around his face long silver hair flowed beautifully, falling over his shoulders mesmerizingly.

If you took a quick look he appeared to be a normal human being - ridiculously beautiful, but still a human being.

But the more you looked, the more you realized how inhuman he was.

From the line of his elbows to the length of his fingers his immaculate ivory skin gave way to the deepest shade of black; as if he had sunk the lower half of both arms into a coal barrel. His fingers contained nails - black claws, you corrected yourself - sharp and deadly, even from the distance you were standing.

A movement behind his body caught your attention and your mouth formed an 'o' as you saw a long black whip-like tail swirling gently from side to side, dancing slowly around the creature's body.

Through the silver strands of his hair, the sharp points of his ears peeked out, giving him an almost elven appearance.

On one side of his face an eyepatch covered one of his eye; beneath the leather a long scar split the skin from his pale cheek to just above his eyebrow. On the other side, a beautiful purple orb glowed brightly, an electrifying hue like neon light, visible and attention - grabbing even with the thick curtain of eyelashes weighing down on it.

He ran his tongue over his sharp teeth - one fucking forked tongue, black and long, slowly scraping over the top of his very, very prominent fucking fangs - smirking at the way you were visibly stunned at the sight of him.

You had the dizzying feeling of being trapped in a dream - a nightmare maybe, to be honest. Because, by God, there was no way he could be real. Creatures like him didn't exist outside the pages of occult books or twisted monster romance tales.

Although, rationally, you knew you should be running for your life or screaming at the top of your lungs for help from one of your apathetic neighbors, you weren't doing either. You were there, eyes wide and heart racing, completely unable to take your attention away from the man - the creature, by which point it was painfully obvious he wasn't a man - in front of you.

The two of you stand there, staring at each other for what seems like ages. He's decidedly with fun and you're frozen with...whatever it is you're feeling.

But then the steps he takes towards your bed, though slow, are enough to snap you out of your momentary paralysis. With a startled screech, you jerked yourself violently backwards until your back was pressed against the headboard, your knees pulled up to your chest and your hands flailing in front of you.

The creature knows it too, looking down at your little hands waving in front of him and up to your eyes with an arched brow, an explicit mockery hanging in the air even though he chooses not to say anything.

"D-don't come closer!" You scream with your arms outstretched, using them as a shield that you knew was completely useless.

He ignores your order, of course, moving closer until his knees hit the side of your bed, much closer to you than you'd like, but still keeping a certain safe distance.

"Who are...what are you?" you demanded, voice shaky, and he laughed at you again.

"I've had many names, pet. But you can call me Aemond. That name pleases me." He purred contentedly. "As for what I am...well...I'd say you already know."

Yes, you knew. But you didn't want to admit it. You didn't want that profane word to come out of your lips before he confirmed it himself.

"I-"

"Tell me." He interrupted, narrowing the only visible eye and losing his amused expression, suddenly adopting a darker one.

"What?" You swallowed nervously, trying to buy time.

"Tell me what I am, pet." He repeated, stretching a blackened hand across the bed until almost reached your feet, but you pulled your legs even closer to your body as you realized his intentions and he smiled at your movement - although the smile had far less to do with amusement and much more to do with danger. "Come on, kid, you already know the answer."

You took a deep breath, somehow sensing that his request wasn't really a request but an order. An order you shouldn't dare disobey.

"D-demon."

Was all you said before his hand was cupping your calf, long fingers closed completely around the circumference with a possessive grip. You grated between your teeth, startled by the sudden movement, heart racing with the purest fear of what he could do to you. He smelled of power, a powerful demon.

"Such a smart little bug…" He praised, still holding your calf between his warm fingers - so hot.

"Don't hurt me, please!" You said quickly between ragged breaths, dreading his next move.

"Hurt you?" he asked, changing his expression to look genuinely confused, but it was clear how amused he was at your despair, being the evil creature that he was. "Oh, little lamb, I see you mistake my intentions."

"And whose fault is that?" You mutter in an affronted tone, despite all the dread you feel. How audacious of him to suggest that you're getting things mixed up after all the psychological terror he's inflicted on you these past few days.

The demon - Aemond - grins wider, purple gaze gleaming with challenge, the grip on your calf a little tighter, though still not to the point of hurt.

"Mine, I suppose." He replies, not looking the least bit sorry. "I won't hurt you, kid. But I am a demon. And demons are malicious by nature, I'm sure you know. I'm sorry to say it's not my fault your fear amuses me so much..." he provides a kind of macabre explanation for his actions that doesn't comfort you on any level, quite the contrary.

"But no. My intention is not to hurt you physically, little girl." His hand finally moves — although to your dismay, the movement isn't to release you from his touch.

You bite down hard on your lower lip as you feel long, elegant fingers gently tracing the length of your shin, occasionally scraping their sharp nails into your flesh in a gentle caress. That ruthless gaze narrows as he leans forward, grabbing your chin with the fingers of his other hand before you can react and pull away, holding your gaze as he studies you closely. The single luminescent purple eye searches your eyes, captivating you with his hypnotic glow. His intense gaze doesn't waver and you start to wonder if he's looking into the depths of your soul.

"The reason for my appearance is another." He sings in a husky, low voice, moving closer until he's just inches from your face. He smells like fire and leather, but there's an undertone of something minty underneath it all - absurdly masculine. It is good. Too good to be safe. In yet another attempt to impose any distance between the two of you, you bring your hands to his wrist, trying to keep his hand away from your face. Your fingers barely cover half the circumference and it's almost laughable the way you're straining so hard, to the point of gasping with the effort to move him, but Aemond waits patiently motionless with a disinterested gaze until you give up your attempt with a tired snort.

"What…what do you want?" you ask between rapid breaths, loosening your grip on his wrist but refusing to let go of your hands.

"Thank you, of course." He says with a disinterested shrug, like you didn't just embarrass yourself in front of him with that little show. "Do you have any idea how long I've been sealed in that diary? Of course you don't, your poor human mind would be incapable of imagining something like that."

"I-I don't understand..." You were confused, terrified, offended, humiliated, intrigued, curious...all fusing together within the mass of flesh, blood and bones that was your human body. You desperately needed some clarification.

"I know, pet." He stretched his lips into an understanding smile, gently tapping the tip of your nose with his index finger - comforting you in the same way an adult would a child who still doesn't understand anything about life.

"For ages I was trapped within the pages of that accursed diary by a powerful containment spell. It is true that many humans have found the diary over the centuries. But none of them had enough curiosity and determination to decipher the language and summon my body from that prison. It's a long-dead language, you know, even I admit it would be a tall order for anyone. But you're different, aren't you? You didn't rest until you found out what the words meant. Such a good little lamb..." he praises you, bringing his cheek closer to yours until he rub once, twice, three times the side of his face against yours, purring satisfied with the touch. "Then yes, I have to thank you. Thanks to you I'm free, pet."

You knew very well how difficult it had been to decipher the diary's words, it was extensive weeks spent in all the libraries in your city and neighboring cities, plus hundreds of different visits to dark material sites until you found some ray of hope. It was exhausting and you understood why many had given up. But he was right about your resolve. Once you've met a challenge, you don't back down until you've won. It was your greatest asset and your greatest flaw. But at no time did you consider the possibility that your quest might result in the freedom of a creature from hell.

"But-" you licked your dry lips, the demon's intimidating gaze following the movement with explicit interest, "but if you're finally free after so long, why are you here with me? Why are you still here even after so many days since that I read the diary?"

You yearned and dreaded the answer in equal measure.

His gaze grew darker, a mischievous shadow crept over his smile as he tilted his head until your noses were touching. You try to turn away, but the grip of his fingers on your jaw is strong, keeping you still.

"Easy, pet. Because we're both bonded now." Your throat goes dry as you try to understand what he's saying.

"Wh...what does that mean?" You murmur, the scorching heat of his wrist under your fingers and his breath hitting your lips serving as a distraction from the madness that wants to take over your mind.

He hums softly, the hand he kept smoothing over your leg sliding over your thigh before pulling it to the side. You immediately try to close your legs in embarrassment, but his grip tightens as he keeps his gaze smugly locked on yours. He positions his half-naked body right between your legs, stretching your legs out to accommodate his large body almost to the point of pain and you feel your cheeks burning with the awkwardness of the intimate position you two were in.

He snorts in amusement at your reaction, smoothing your cheeks with his sharp nails.

"That means you're mine and I'm yours." The way he said it, slow and somber, it kept you with parted lips and batted breath. "You are mine to use however I choose for the rest of your mortal days. And when death comes to you, pet, be it from old age, illness, or some everyday accident, then I will receive you from the other side and you will be mine for eternity. Your soul belongs to me now, do you understand?"

For a few seconds you felt like you were underwater, his words becoming a muffled sound, a high-pitched buzz starting to ring in your ears. The weight of what he said threatening to overwhelm you.

'I will receive you from the other side...'

"Oh-oh, God, did I sell my soul?" You're shaking, eyes filling with tears, broken sobs crawling from your throat.

"Shh, little lamb, it's not as bad as it looks. You'll have fun, I promise." Despite the absurdity of such a statement, and the situation itself - not to mention that he looked like some kind of evil angel created from your personal list of secretly attractive traits...you felt the painful truth of his words, in a way dark and deep. "And I, well, I can't even begin to explain how pleased I am to know that it was you who summoned me. It pleases me so much to know that I am bound to someone like you..."

You let out a startled little yelp and look down as you feel his tail curl around your thigh, squeezing the flesh just enough for you to realize the strength that part of him possesses. You want to say more, you want to scream how wrong this all is. It was just curiosity, it wasn't an infernal pact. You were a good person, not the best - you could admit that - but still a good person. You didn't deserve a ticket to hell. But even with so much to be said, the words just won't leave your lips. Maybe it's the abundant stress, or just the overwhelming presence of him above you that keeps you from doing such a thing. So you just stand there, shivering and decidedly in shock.

"Someone so beautiful," he says predatorily into the heated skin of your neck, feeling the fast pace your heart was beating, "delicious, yes, someone with such sweet blood..." he practically growled through clenched teeth, inhaling your scent deeply as his fingers rose to feel your breast over your nightshirt. "You're a good girl, I can smell it. Tell me, have you ever felt a man's touch, kid?"

You stutter and blush at the direct question. And although the answer is yes, you've been touched by a man before, you don't feel like you should share that information with him.

“You are not a man! You're a devil!" you hissed back at him, trying to regain control of your own emotions.

“Smart little thing, I see.” He sneered at you, making your cheeks flush even more with embarrassment. “But tell me, human, what do you think demons wants more than blood sacrifices?” he looked at you from under a barely closed eyelid. The answer 'sex' hung over your head like a physical weight, but you refused to say it. The creature then leaned up, his warm breath tickling your ear as he whispered, "It's been so long since I've had a human so cute and so pretty too. I'd say I'm a lucky demon, wouldn't you agree?"

You whimpered a retort to his question when you felt a warm, slimy tongue snake out to lick your neck. You couldn't believe this was happening to you.

In a single motion, he grabs your wrists and places you completely flat, just one large hand being more than enough to hold both your wrists together with extreme ease, his body immediately covering yours. You gasp in shock, but his mouth presses against yous in an attempt to stop your protest. Thinking becomes an almost impossible task when he slides his hands to your hips, pulling you roughly against his hard body, barely letting you breathe and making your head spin. His mouth is heavy and hot on yours, it's the most suffocating heat of the sun, so wet and demanding. But you resist, fighting the grip of his hand on your wrists with the best of your strength.

You're trying not to get lost in the feeling, and he knows it. He parts his lips to growl in annoyance, glaring at you hard enough to bring a shudder of fear through your body before tangling his black claws in your hair roughly and pulling your head back.

"Ungrateful little thing. How dare you try to deny me? I've been so patient, pet, just hanging around and watching when I could have claimed what's mine days ago! Do you really think you can resist me? Do you really think I have any scruples about taking what's mine regardless of what you want?"

His grip on your hair tightens and your mouth opens with the sharp sting of pain from the movement and he takes the opportunity to bring your lips together again, this time wasting no time in letting that long, forked tongue explore your mouth.

You try, but it's impossible to stay still, you couldn't help but groan in...disgust? Of discomfort? Of pleasure? You didn't know what you were feeling, not with the way Aemond thrusts his long tongue between your lips. The taste of him invading your senses is overwhelming and your mouth fills with fire-flavored saliva, liquid heat dominating your taste buds, plus that subtle mint touch. You felt the thickness of forked muscle sliding along the walls of your mouth, mapping your teeth and licking your tongue hungrily until it almost slipped down your throat. You should have gasped at the less than gentle intrusion, but instead there was nothing but a strange, hot pleasure coursing through your body, as if he had mesmerized you, building and building until you were moaning beyond all rational sense around the long tongue massaging the back of your throat.

To your giddy confusion, you find yourself kissing back - not that he was giving you many options in the almost claustrophobic way he trapped you in bed. But your voluntary participation is undeniable when your fingers close around the sides of his neck, pulling him closer, not only allowing him to taste your mouth in this wild way, but returning the licks in his mouth as best you can with your very smaller tongue.

A long, satisfied 'hmmm' echoes directly inside your mouth, the demon's satisfaction at realizing your submission made evident as he loosens his grip on your hair, long fingers massaging your scalp in reward, as if you were a puppy who did something right.

You'd almost forgotten about the tail that was wrapped tightly around your thigh, but when it squeezes your flesh and pulls your leg up until you can feel his lower half against yours, your attention is fully on it again. His cock was hard and pressed between your legs, hot and pulsing even through both of your clothes, the thin cotton of his pants not doing much to hide the length or girth of him against you. You gasp mid-kiss and he smiles, closing the sharp fangs on your lower lip more gently than you'd think he could act, pulling it free with a wet 'pop'.

"So many days just watching you, little lamb. And now finally...yes...finally." He seemed to be talking more to himself than you, a soft murmur escaping between his lips, but you found it difficult to concentrate on that with the way that evil tail rose to curl around your waist, squeezing tighter and tighter, pulling and undulating your body against his slowly. "Your little human brain couldn't begin to understand the ways I want to possess you, pet." He snarled into your lips, and though you knew you should be offended at least in part by his words, heat pooled between your legs and an undignified shiver crept up your spine, visibly shuddering through your body.

"That's it baby, I can make you feel so good…" A moan escapes your lips without your permission as he sinks his hips into yours a little harder, the hard length hitting your clit hidden by your clothes directly. You blush and bring both hands to your lips reflexively, embarrassed by your reaction.

His pointed ears quiver slightly; a darker smile stretching his lips, his tail letting go of your waist to whip restlessly in the air and you squelch your disappointment at missing the feel of it in your body. He's anxious, you don't know how you know, but you do. He puts more weight on you, rubbing his hard cock into the softness between your legs harder, wanting to get more sounds out of you.

Abruptly he reaches into the hem of your loose sleep shorts and pulls it off, tearing the fabric in one swipe as you yelp with fright. You barely have time to recall your nightwear choice before he's putting his hands on each knee, pushing them sideways and leaving your most private part completely exposed to him. But with his openly satisfied look and the way his tongue slowly crawls between his lips you are forcibly reminded that you didn't put on your panties to sleep.

"Good girl." he praises softly, his husky tone humming deep.

You look away, wanting to break eye contact, cheeks burning the most intense shade of red. The softness of his deep voice sends mixed messages throughout your body.

"P-please, I don't want this..." You say, even though you don't understand what you're feeling. Even if it's not just revulsion coursing through your veins right now. Even though your clit is twitching in anticipation of the lustful way he's looking at you.

But this had to stop before it went too far.

"Really?" He mocks with an arched brow, smoothing both of your thighs with those long, black fingers, tingling your skin with their unnatural heat.

You intend to reinforce your refusal, but he chooses this moment to allow his tail to slowly trace the shape of your left thigh, down and down. Your mouth is open, body trembling, but your eyes are locked on the devious path he's taking. His tail is warm, like the rest of his body, but the texture is different. The long appendage is heavy and feels like warm leather, and it was already obvious to you how effective it was, following Aemond's will with fluidity and assurance.

You already knew what was coming, of course, and you tried to dodge, but the grip of his hands on your spread knees prevented your lower half from moving even an inch. When the tip of the tail grazed the expanse of your outer lips, you could do nothing but jump and sigh loudly. You came up on your elbows, embarrassed but curious and Aemond chuckled, spreading your legs further apart for a full show, the tip of your tail slithering up and down your pussy like a snake, the sheen of your arousal staining the length of your black appendage.

You threw your head back and bit your lip to keep from moaning aloud as he circled your clit precisely, your hands gripping the sheet beneath. You felt one of his hands wrapping the fabric of your shirt and pulling it up, you understood and lifted your torso for him to remove it from your body, afraid that another piece of clothing would be torn. Now naked, you blinked slowly at him, lying with red cheeks and trembling body, open as he violates your pussy with his evil tail.

You must have been a vision to him because with a loud growl he reached down to capture your lips again in a kiss that was all teeth and tongue. He drank your cry moans with his long tongue as the tail flicked your clit faster, building the pool of heat in your stomach at a frightening rate. You want to scream. Scream at him, scream for help, scream at himself. This shouldn't be happening. You shouldn't be reacting to this. This was wrong.

Almost lost in your internal struggle, you feel another smile on his lips as he release yours, a long thread of spittle bringing your mouths together as he pulls away.

It's dirty, it's wrong.

It is sin.

And you're still moaning.

“I-“ you go to say something, but your words fail. What else could you say that would change that?

"Damn," he growls through clenched teeth. “You are so fucking beautiful.”

And then, before you can respond, that appendage is entering you, it's a movement so obvious and yet so unexpected that you just part your lips in a silent scream. The thickness alone resembles an average human penis, but it is so warm and malleable, so unnatural. He starts slowly thrusting, turning and contracting inside you in search of what pleases you the most. It puts your body in sensory overdose right away.

"Fuck, so tight, pet..."

His voice gives you unwanted butterflies. No. This was wrong. You needed this to stop.

Heedless of the warning he already gave you, you raise your arms to his chest and start using them to try to push him away.

The hand that was still on your thigh rises and through your effort to free yourself greets your neck with a pressure strong enough to get your attention. His fingers wrap around the area tightly and push down, pinning you back to the bed. Your hands come up to meet his wrists.

“Ae-,” your voice breaks as his hand jeopardizes your ability to breathe.

His impulses stop, but he still remains inside you. He leans forward on your stomach. His hot skin burning against yours. You whimper under the pressure. Tears caused by the tension in your throat fall from the outer corners of your eyes, tickling your face as they flow.

“I'm already inside you,” he says with a heavy breath, “you're so fucking wet and I can feel the way your pussy is clinging to me right now. Hate me all you want, I don't care, but don't you dare deny what your body is making obvious, pet."

You sob louder, both from the pressure in your throat and the sharp movement of the tip of his tail coming back to fuck you. Aemond is more determined - or irritated, you really can't tell the difference - and snarling he bends down, big body bending until he's licking the valley between your breasts with that unnaturally long, forked tongue, circling and lathering your nipples with his saliva.

"W-wait...please..." You don't know what you're doing anymore, but you feel your wits slipping through your fingers as your hands go to his hair, tugging at the silver strands, arching your body as you felt him licking down your belly, his tail moving in and out of your pussy in the same languid rhythm.

And you scream, this time you really scream, as you feel his tongue on your clit. He's curled up between your legs, fingers of one hand still firmly around your throat while the other is hooked around your right thigh, leaving you as wide open for him, his tail so long he can easily keep using it to fuck your wet hole as his tongue torments your clit with timed strokes.

You squeeze his hair between your fingers, hips gyrating in an attempt to evade his attacks - or are you looking for more? - head banging from side to side on pillow.

You don't know how you have the presence of mind for such a thing, but when his fingers finally release your throat and you can finally suck in much needed air, you too feel something that definitely wasn't there before. Your hand runs to the sore area, feeling the leathery material of what feels like a choker around your neck. It was beyond your human capacity to understand how he did it, but Aemond had made that thing just appear on your skin. You feel a small icy stone on the front, and even if you aren't able to see the piece at the moment, you know it's a cute little embellishment for such a delicate piece. You could fool yourself into saying it was a necklace, a cute choker perhaps...but you knew better. And when you looked down at that electric purple gaze between your legs, a big, evil smile stretching his pretty lips, you didn't have any doubts what it was. A collar.

You could have done a lot of things at that moment as a way of expressing your outrage that he had given you a collar like you were a goddamn dog, but you didn't. Not when your tear-clogged gaze was fixed on the way he purposely locked your attention on the slow, sensual dance of his tongue in your pussy. He was deliberately slow as he allowed the dark, wet muscle to jolt your little bundle of nerves once, twice, three times. You feel his mouth closing around him, sucking and starting to stroke you lightly with his tongue...an obscene amount of saliva pooling and running down to your entrance, where his tail was quickening the thrusts, stretching you in preparation for what was to come.

You couldn't tell what it was, maybe it was the enigmatic eye patch, the scar, the neon glow of his good eye, the silver hair that tickled your skin, maybe it was those black dyed hands holding your legs possessively, the claws digging into your skin, or that fucking tongue, the tail darting in and out of your body with a lewd, wet sound...maybe it was just the complete set that he was. Whatever it was, you thought that never in history had a human witnessed such an immensely oppressive scene as this one. It was hard to keep sane.

"So...so hot..." You're muttering, feeling the hellish heat taking over your body. Heat from his body on yours, from his tongue, from his tail…it's everywhere.

“Imagine how hot you will feel when you grab my cock.” To his obvious amusement, your breath hitched and your eyes widened, a jolt of pleasure shuddering through your body, "Oh?" licking your clit once more he keeps talking, hot breath on your most sensitive part. “Does the idea excite you, my pet? My long thick cock inside you, fucking your insides so good, stretching your pretty pussy and filling you with hot cum until you can't take it anymore? We'll make quite a mess, won't we? I know you'll accept me as good as a good pet.”

Upon hearing the last sentence you instinctively grab the collar with your right hand, somehow feeling an intense rush of pleasure run through your veins at hearing this.

"That's it, pet. Such a good girl…" He grunts happily, attuned to your reactions, doubling down on your pussy. "Now I really want to see how fucking beautiful you look falling apart for me. Can you do that, pet? Can you cum for me now?" He makes it sound like a request, but his tongue goes back to circling your clit in a rhythm that shows it's an order.

Fuck. Why was his voice is so orgasmic? The desire within you increases tenfold. Your walls cling to his tail as if your are holding on for dear life. A part of your mind screams for you to fight it, but an even bigger part screams for more. And that part was winning.

Your body suddenly gives out and your whole world goes blurry. Your pussy gripping his tail hard as he continues to enter you with no sympathy for your current state. Your moans and screams echo in your small room as your entire body is shaking. Your legs clinging to him like you never wanted him to go away. You were in absolute bliss and you don't want it to end. Your pussy continually contracted around him, trying to get every last sensation possible. Pulling your leg up, you pin them against his side as another cry of pleasure escapes your quivering lips.

Eventually his thrusts ease and your legs slowly loosen their grip on him. You struggle to catch your breath as your heart pounds in your chest. You barely notice when he pulls his tail out of you.

"Such a fucking good girl." He finally releases your thighs. His hands go down your back and pull you up, resting you against him. You complain about the movement, but you don't have the energy to walk away. In your semi-delusional state, you feel his rock-hard erection jutting beneath you. He's not done with you yet. And some insane part of you was okay with it. You think all the fighting has left your body.

He's humming as he kisses your neck, almost purring like a giant cat with the pleasure of having your neck wrapped around that collar. You don't have the strength to argue against it at the moment.

You don't complain when he lays you down on the bed again, tail and hands stroking your body as he kisses you slowly and you return the favor, pressing your lips against his. His tongue slides over your mouth on the next kiss and you part your lips, giving him freedom before you do the same back for him. For a moment, your focus remained only on his mouth against yours, enjoying his subdued aggression, but already you were feeling that need building again, spurred on by his skilled lips and tongue. And from the feel of his cock rubbing against your pussy, it was clear he was impatient too. When he pulls away you chase his mouth with a whimper, which makes him smirk, but he pulls himself up until he's standing beside the bed, fingers hooked in the waistband of his pants.

Aemond, the demon, standing in your room with the moonlight illuminating him, with long white hair, a sly smile and the body of a god - although he is far from one - is nothing if not utterly confident and you find yourself unable to to look away from that pool of neon purple that is his gaze. But his head drops a little and he blinks down, indicating you should look at his hands pulling down his pants.

You squirm a little in bed, anxious, but you obey. His fingers finally push his pants down to his feet, stepping out of them and lifting his body to his full height, proud and evil. Looking almost amused to see your eyes pop out of their sockets.

You weren't surprised that he was big, of course, having already felt him against your body while he was dressed. But he wasn't just big, he was fucking big.

He was demonic, in every single way.

"G-big, big..." You gasped incoherently, your eyes opening wide like frisbee discs, unable to take your attention away from the monstrously large cock protruding between the demon's legs, clear liquid oozing from the reddish tip and oozing down the long, venous base. Ignoring your terror, Aemond returned to the bed, pulling you against his body.

You watch as if you are outside of your body as he reaches between your legs, gripping your cock and spreading the pre-cum, the sight so erotic that you feel a jolt of desire in your core, even though the dread is an overwhelming ball in your stomach. Aemond's smile turns smug, lightly kissing your temple.

"Do you feel that, little lamb?"

He presses the shaft between your pussy lips, hands gripping your legs to keep it in place, long eyelashes fluttering at the feel of the heat of your pussy so close to him. His tail lashed impatiently behind his body, showing how agitated he was.

"It's all because of you, my sweet human."

You're not sure what he means, blushing as he rocks his hips, your slick spreading over his cock as it creeps between your lips. It feels so heavy against you, thick and so hot, fucking hot. Chills couldn't help but race along your spine, moaning at the stimulation of your lips, the head of his cock catching your contracted hole. When he feels you've relaxed a bit he lifts his cock to rest the scorching heat on the length of your belly, forcing you to get a preview of how far he'll reach inside you - a proud smile tugging gently at the corner of his lip. You cough and choke on your saliva, squirm and push-uselessly at his chest with your shaking hands, definitely going into panic mode again.

"This won't fit!" You practically screamed, terrified. There was no hiding your shock even if you wanted to.

Aemond snarled impatiently, sharp fangs nipping at your ear, tugging at the flesh until you whimpered. "Shhh, little lamb, it'll fit…" He soothed the aching sting in your ear with his tongue, the stickiness and heat of his saliva on your skin serving as a momentary distraction.

You don't think patience is a gift that a demon has in abundance, and you feel that Aemond is, in fact, showing more restraint than you'd expect from what you've heard given what he is. So you try to swallow the nervous ball in your throat as he reaches down, bite after bite skewering your skin, down your chest, fangs piercing as he suckles on your breast, teasing your nipple as his eyes watch your every little reaction. He doesn't waste any more time before separating your legs a little more with his hands, holding that huge cock between his fingers and guiding it to your entrance. “This is mine,” he mutters like thunder, voice deep, dark, possessive, gaze gleaming even brighter, smile twisted almost frighteningly as he laughs, tongue rising to paint a stripe across your throat, ghosts of his lips over your trembling skin. “All of you are mine, precious girl. Only mine. Now and ever."

You think this is as close to a passionate confession as a demon could express. But then he's thrusting inside you and you forget about it all, mouth opening in a scream at the suffocating feeling. Goosebumps run rampant through your body, just his head straining your little gaping hole, already so much to take.

"That's right, scream like it's the last thing you'll ever do, little bitch." You'd find the way he seems impassive to your grief cruel, but at least he's taking it slow, letting you get used to the overwhelming feeling of taking him inside.

Your nails are clenched tightly into his shoulders and he purrs satisfied with it, kissing your cheeks and licking with hungry the tears that fall from your eyes.

“So beautiful,” the demon purrs, low and deep, strained voice, showing perhaps for the first time some slip in his controlled facade, seeming smitten with pleasure at finally feeling your walls sucking him in deeper, “so tight, so fucking tight, little lamb, tight just for me. You were made just for me, weren't you?"

"Mhmm," you whimper, finding it impossible to find a voice as your eyes grow hazy, the tip of his cock finally going deep enough to graze your cervix before pressing harder to fit the rest of it inside, almost leaving you without air. It's too much! Too much to handle! Your hands immediately flail on his shoulders, sucking in deep breaths, squeezing your pussy. Aemond's own grip on you tightens, kissing your ear until his is moaning. Moaning in your ear. The sound alone almost distracts you from everything else. But there's only one thing you can think of to say, body shaking with such a powerful cock buried inside you. “B-Big!”

"Big?" He echoes smugly, with a stupidly big smile. "Do you like it is big, my beautiful pet?"

“Mhmm!” You don't know how to respond, your nails digging into his skin, biting your lip hard. You still don't know what you're feeling. You've been stretched and you feel so hot, his cock heating you up like a furnace, and you feel redundant thinking about how full you feel, so full, like there's no room left in you. But it really is as it seems. You actually feel full to the brim.

You didn't know what you were feeling and that's why your eyes rolled back and your mouth dropped open without a sound as an orgasm tore through your insides without any warning, catching you completely by surprise. You didn't see it coming and the way Aemond was snarling like a animal in your ear, big body tensing above you, he didn't expect it either.

"Bloody hell, you really are my fucking bitch, aren't you? Cum on my cock before I even move…fuck, you're so pathetic." He grunts between heavy breaths, clearly stunned despite the mocking words. You're panting like a dog, trying to gulp in air and fighting your own racing heartbeat that threatens to kill you at any moment.

Aemond recovers much faster than you, gently kissing the collar around your neck once before starting to move.

"Wait. Wait just a minute, please, it's too much," you beg, feeling overstimulated from all the sensations and the abrupt orgasm.

"Wait? No, no, I don't think so. I've waited too long." He leaned over you, pressing his warm chest against yours. "And I'm not even close to done with you." He chuckled along the shell of your ear.

Your eyes widen as you turn your head to look at him, watching him grin as he begins to fuck you, not caring how much you sob in pain and pleasure.

"You complain but your pussy sucks me back every time I move, do you feel it?" He asked, laughing breathlessly. He dug his nails into your skin, easily manipulating your body as he pleased, forcing you up and down his cock when he meets you halfway.

The sound of slapping skin as your pace steadily increased made your head spin, clearly losing control of yourself as Aemond began to growl, thrusting into you with great force. In between thrusts his purple gaze burned into you in a way that left you wondering if he could see the stardust of your soul. His intensity in that moment overshadowed everything, and you could, for perhaps the first time, really feel his supernatural power.

"You are mine?" It should have been a question, but the timbre of his voice sounded like a warning.

You squirmed, excitement flooding you even at the question. You should say no, after all you met this man - this creature - tonight. You couldn't say you was his, right? But the look in his eyes was too heavy, the way his cock stretched your pussy in a way no human could, and the way his hands felt as if he knew your body from ages ago...maybe it was just the emotion of the moment, but you knew you couldn't find something like this with anyone else. Which is why you're nodding, running your fingers over the back of his neck until you grab a silver lock of his hair and tug lightly, eliciting a wild hiss from him.

"Y-yes."

Aemond is relentless, brutal as he fucks you against the bed. You feel big hands gripping your waist tightly, his fingers sure to leave bruises on your flesh, the supple leather of his tail rubbing erotically against your body. Rhythmic slapping noises, wet and dirty, echo throughout the room, accompanied by growls, loud moans, and muffled sighs. Each one makes your stomach churn in a mixture of heat, nervousness and ecstasy all at once. The hot friction wears down your core, and you clench and unclench around Aemond as he slams into you with animalistic desire. You can feel the pleasure seeping into your body, heating you from the inside out as your wet hole adjusts slowly but surely to his rhythm. Amidst all of this you are vaguely aware of kisses and hickeys being left on your shoulder.

“What a whoring little lamb,” he pants, groaning when he feels you tighten at his words.

Your head is already drowning in different sensations, unable to process everything at once – his cock inside you, his lips moving along your skin, his hands doing what they want with you. You're flushed all over, sweat coating your body in a faint sheen, your inner thighs a sticky mess of arousal. While he's fucking you, your eyes close, your head drops back slightly. It's all you can do. It really is a lot, you think to yourself. Too much. His innards seem to be boiling, threatening to crack with every thrust you try, perfectly calculated to drive you mad.

His hands close on your hips, undulating your body with his strokes, panting hot into your neck with every shudder you make, silver hair tickling your chest and face as he murmurs praises in a language you don't understand.

Your body shudders, senses are on fire, as a particularly hard blow hits your G-spot even further. You're not surprised, not with a cock that size. There isn't a single inch inside you that isn't being massaged.

In a thoughtless move you reach out the fingers of one hand to touch the leather of his eyepatch, curious about what he hides underneath it. But Aemond is faster, grabbing your wrist and squeezing your fragile flesh until you squeal with pain.

"No." He snarls in your face, scolding you with the darkest, most dangerous expression you've seen on him since the night began. It should scare you to death - and on some level it does - but it also serves to fuel your euphoria. Having a wild animal like him dominate you like that is more than your poor human mind could ever imagine.

A very loud groan echoes through the walls and back into your ears and you realize it's yours. You think your neighbors might have actually been listening. But you do not care. The only thing on your mind right now is Aemond. He claimed you completely for himself, occupying your every thought, filling every crevice inside you with his cock. The mere memory of being called 'his' sends you spiraling deeper into a lust-filled haze.

"You're close..."

The demon says this more as a statement and less as a question, letting go of your hand, apparently deciding to forget about your little prank. Not that he is wrong in his assumption, but you can barely answer.

"I…" you gasp, only to lose your words in another series of moans. He's still speaking coherent sentences...How does he do it? How can he control himself? You wonder.

But the truth is, he can't. You place your small hands on his muscular arms for support, and gasp in surprise when you feel him shaking. A continuous vibration beneath his ivory skin and when you turn your head to look at him you see that his jaw is tense, locked tightly, nostrils flaring roughly expelling air. He's holding back, you know that now. As if he was preventing a monster from taking over his body.

You should be scared, god, you really are scared. But it's not just that. Seeing the unearthly creature literally vibrate in front of you in an effort to contain himself causes the coil in your stomach to snap, a loud emotion that makes you arch your back and dig your nails into his arms. You're screaming but you barely recognize it, his breathless laugh in your ear and the violent tremor that runs through your body keeps you from concentrating on other things.

You come while he's still hitting you like the savage he really is. A guttural sound, a mixture of moan and wail, comes from your chest, screaming in ecstasy as you shake yourself in his hands. You're shaking, squirming, cumming. You feel so dirty and yet it feels so right to unravel under him. You're panting, noises that sound a little too close to dry sobs breaking from your lips.

You're panting, struggling to catch your breath, and you're, above all, tired. Emotionally you had been through a lot this night and the three orgasms he violently wrung from your body left you physically exhausted. You know you're sold out, used. Vaguely you notice his pace has slowed, but you're too focused on recovering to see his baleful gaze sweep over your weakened figure, his mouth slightly parted, hard cock twitching at the sight below him. It's not until he speaks that you quickly realize your night isn't over yet.

“On your knees.”

You blink rapidly, trying to drive away the cloudiness in your eyes and focus on his face.

"W-what-" you stutter weakly, interrupted by another gasp as a particularly abrupt thrust pokes deep into your walls. You are very aware of Aemond's body hovering over you, especially when he towers like a tree above you.

“You can take more,” he insists, his voice laced with an unspoken threat as his warm breath caresses the shell of your ear. Exhausted whimpers are forced out of you with each slow stroke of his cock, your body shuddering helplessly.

He will make you more accepting of him whether you think you can or not. And you don't think you can, not with the way your body feels like Jell-O right now. But when he slowly pulls out of your pussy and gives the collar around your neck an encouraging tug, indicating you should get up, you know you have no options here.

The fire in your cheeks increases tenfold. Timidly, you slide across the bed, aware that your body's fucked up state doesn't allow for movement to be as graceful as you'd like. The emptiness of him no longer inside you clouded your brain. The whirling vortex of your mind and the radiant heat of your body reminded you of how close to insanity you really were.

You weren't mentally present enough to feel embarrassed as much as you should have when you knelt on your bed, face down, butt up.

"Is that...oh, fuck...such a good little lamb..."

You moan at the praise and his cock slides inside you more smoothly than the first time he took you. He slides seamlessly into your abused, sensitive, throbbing entrance, fitting perfectly into the wet interior of your body. As before, Aemond is sheathed all the way to the bottom, hands gripping your waist tightly. There's that stretch again, carving you deep, forcing you to take everything from him a second time. And even if you've already taken him, your body still finds it very difficult to deal with his size. You moan in pain, clenching your teeth into the pillow and squeezing the sheet between your fingers.

But, vile creature that he is, he doesn't give you any more time than that.

Suddenly, a loud slap resounds through the room and you feel a burning sensation in your ass - but before you can react, he's gone. He drags your hips up to meet his, one palm firmly cupping your buttocks while the other pushes you back. Wet slaps and squelches start again, amplified by the wet mess in your hole, a constant, dirty reminder that you've become nothing more than a whore to the demon that's been ravaging your body.

You're shaking, your legs shaking as they struggle to hold your body in that position. Your breathing gets heavy, your inability to control yourself is evident in the way your back arches and your body heaves onto your hands, getting down on all fours like a good pet, even though your poor body is bruised and ruined. You don't know how you can even consider cuming again after three times, but for some reason, as you sigh at his touch and the feeling of warm velvet crawling against your walls, your body is stirred once more.

Maybe it's some demonic influence he's using on you? Yes, probably yes.

"Come on, little human, admit it, being a demon's pet isn't so bad, is it?"

He continues fucking you brutally, laughing maniacally at the question himself, without a shred of mercy in his actions. Everything is calculated, precise, tailor-made to force you to succumb to him. He makes you shake, sob, scream and suffer. You're crying after only a few minutes of this, tears catching on your lashes, until they fall from your eyes. You are powerless under it. So so ruined. Spent. Destroyed. It's twisted and wrong, the way he stains your spirit with his own filthy body, a sinner's hands tying and smothering you while you're too weak to fight back. He degraded you, he polluted you, he desecrated you. You look shameful and you know it.

And if there was any doubt left in the veracity of his words about you going to hell with him when you died, you know it's gone. You weren't a very religious person, but even you believed that summoning and letting a demon fuck your brains out was a pretty effective way to cancel your ticket to heaven.

And even with that disturbing knowledge, you're more satisfied than ever, glistening with sweat and sex and the painful marks he left behind.

Aemond ran a cluster of claws along the arch of your back, coating you in pink. The sadistic touch spurted a wave of moisture around his cock, antagonizing him to continue. He rocked against your globes of ass, tasting you.

"No longer able to speak, little human?" He mocks with a laugh, squeezing the globes of your ass between his big hands, opening you up for him in a sinfully embarrassing way.

"Don't-aagh!" You try to answer, but you can't. Both for not really being in your most coherent verbal state and for the fact that he chose that moment to pour a generous amount of saliva between the slit of your ass. You moan at the slimy sensation of his very warm saliva running down your ass hole, sliding down to where his cock mercilessly pierced your tired pussy.

When his tail snaked up your spine until it was brushing your ass cheek, you tried to look back, startled and gasping, hoping you were wrong about what he intended to do.

“You are such a cute thing, you know that? Nobody's been here before, pet?" He asks, not stopping the wild movement inside your pussy and not slowing down the gentle strokes of his tail moving up and down between the slit of your ass. Talk about multitasking.

You shake your head frantically, wanting to make it clear that, fuck no, no one has ever been there before. And you didn't know if you wanted to change that. But the intensified look of malice and the cruel smile on his lips make it clear that this information only fueled the unholy desire within him.

"P-please, please don't…" you start to beg, your voice a broken moan from the erotic slaps of the thick cock on your pussy, but the real fear is still noticeable in your plea. You just knew you wouldn't be able to handle it, not tonight at least. Your body had already experienced more overwhelming sensations than you could ever imagine, you knew you would be experiencing sensory overload at any moment.

"Tsk, such a crybaby."

Your hips stuttered with a particularly vicious thrust from him all of a sudden and he wasn't shy about expressing his contentment with a groan as he buried himself deep inside you again - you almost felt like he was going to split you in half with how hard he was being - your chest rising and falling rapidly, trying to catch your breath.

"But don't worry pet, we're not going to do that tonight. I don't want to break my toy, that wouldn't be much fun would it?" He growls, and although his tail is languidly circling the puckered orifice of your ass, he doesn't really press for entry.

You gasp with a stunned look, finding the sensation oddly exhilarating. The long stretch of his cock in and out of you added to the slow circles of the saliva soaked tail on your ass were making your mind light as feathers in the air, your arms shaking in an effort to hold your body.

"Are you going to cum again, dirty little bitch?Are you going to mess with my cock more than you already have?" You hear the desperate cadence in his voice, however much he's trying to be nonchalant about it. He's close too, you feel it in your bones.

A long hot tongue is trailing down the length of your spine, drinking the salt from your sweat and grumbling about how delicious you are. And then he's breathing hard in your ear, big body covering yours completely as his hips keep pushing against the flesh of your ass, forcing your body forward with each stroke. You're fighting to stay on your trembling palms and trembling knees, even with the force of his blows, but the pleasure is beyond anything you've ever experienced - his tail keeps moving into your ass, pressing down on you just enough for you to feel he's there; it's maddening.

"I-I c-can't, can't-" You sob only half coherently, tears streaming down your cheeks. With a helpless squawk you feel your arms give way, your body finally threatening to collapse onto the bed, but then his teeth are immediately closing on the collar around the back of your neck. He pulls, forcing you to throw your head back to ease the pressure until you have no choice but to arch your spine into him. Your shaking hands going to the headboard desperate for stability, warm big hands gripping the sides of your hips to keep your body still in that position.

"You can and you will, pet." He manages to speak with clenched teeth on a collar much more clearly and eloquently than you can with a completely free mouth.

He's fucking you like a dog; snarling like a being possessed with the leather of the collar firmly clamped between his deadly fangs, spittle running down your back, covering your body with his and gripping your hips hard enough that you feel the sting of the sharp claws in your skin.

You tipped your head back into his as you felt another orgasm welling up inside you, deep and hard, and you whimpered brokenly as he fucked your tight pussy into submission, tail still tormenting your ass with shallow, teasing strokes.

“Do you want my cum, little lamb? Do you want me to fill you up?" He growls without letting go of the collar, his hot, minty breath making your skin crawl all over.

"Yes!" You answer without even thinking, hips gyrating as much as you can from the death grip of his fingers.

"Fuck, you're so beautiful, the cutest little pet and you're all mine."

You stutter out a response, but he's not satisfied.

"Say it, fuck!" He growls.

"I'm yours, only yours!" You obey, fear and excitement dancing together in a sinful tangle in your mind.

The missing nail to close your coffin came in the form of a satisfied hum and two long fingers flicking your clit, instantly pushing you over the cliff.

"That's it, you know my name, little summoner, so you better scream when you cum on my cock."

“A-aemond-” You moan hoarsely, panting, shaking, drool starting to trickle out of the corner of your mouth, tears dripping onto the bed sheets.

"Higher!"

"AEMOND!"

His hands grip your hips tighter, fucking you in the same steady rhythm, savoring the feel of your walls tight, body shaking, face ecstatic, the sound of you screaming his name like it's your mantra, stroking his every need to aggressively claim it. An orgasm like you've never experienced shakes your body to the core, immense heat rushing out of you, tense and rigid as you scream things you'd later be ashamed of. Aemond's arms curl around you, offering support as you spasm, fucking faster, groaning as he feel your walls tightening begging for his cum.

He quickly bends you forward, holding you impossibly close to him, restrictively, his cum spurting into your pussy, so incredibly hot your body goes into a new fit of shivers, moaning heavily at the unreal heat that hits inside from you. He's still drilling your exhausted pussy as he rides his pleasure, stretching his to the utmost limit.

Eventually he stops, catching his breath much faster than you but still panting. You can feel the demon's breath fluttering against the curve of your neck and shoulder, tongue lazily licking the bite marks that lay there. It burned, numbed only by the lingering spasms of your orgasm.

You don't think you're very conscious, your body not really feeling like your own, a mixture of shivering and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm your senses. Surprisingly Aemond is compassionate with your stunned state, slowly pulling out of you - not before opening your ass cheeks and admiring with satisfaction for a few seconds the mess of the two of you between your legs. He turns your body and lays you down slowly on the bed, kissing your head.

"You did so well, my pet. Such a good girl…" He's murmuring compliments as he lies behind you, wrapping his larger body around yours in a big shell you didn't know you needed until now. Perhaps it was the stress and intensity of the situation itself, or his contradictory gentle words in your ear, but before you know it you are sobbing, crying like a child as you curl into a ball against his body.

Aemond says nothing, just caresses your body with his strong hands, tail curling protectively around your thigh, and through your sobs, you swear you hear a purring sound right in your ear.

You cry until you feel like there are no tears left in you, just mental exhaustion. You can think of nothing else, nothing but sleep. All the problems, including the demon currently wrapped around your body like a weed, will have to wait until tomorrow.

It feels good, even though it shouldn't be, but his presence behind you is relaxing. The searing heat of his body against yours lulls you straight into dreamless sleep. When you're almost fully asleep you feel a part of him come to life, a nudge just above your ass. You almost cry out, your body is instantly pulling away, but he tightens his arms around you, keeping you pinned to him.

"Shhh, calm down, pet. I'm not going to do anything. Not right now, anyway. I'll let you sleep until tomorrow."

Despite your heart a little racing you nod, trusting what he said. Of course you shouldn't trust the word of a demon and within exactly 3 hours of sleep you are reminded why.

You are gradually jolted out of your sleep by a tongue probing your pussy, satisfied grunts coming from the creature lying between your legs. He opens his eye when he senses you're awake, neon purple iris, narrowed in a feline gaze, forked black tongue parting your folds, dipping in and out of your heat slowly, eliciting a confused, excited moan from you.

"Huh, I'm so sorry?" He offers upon noticing your stunned gaze, withdrawing his tongue from you, only to flick your clit a few times with it and pull away a few inches. His devilish smile makes it clear that there isn't any trace of sincere regret in him.

"No, you don't." You take a breath through gritted teeth, feeling your cheeks flush. But your fingers come up to grip his hair, gently pushing his face into your pulsing heat again, wordlessly begging him to continue. Feeling that he had, in fact, completely corrupted you and that was the final proof.

He bares fangs at you in a snarl and you don't know if he is deeply pleased or irritated by your attempt to tell him what to do.

"You're absolutely right, sweet little lamb. I'm not sorry for what I've done and what I'm about to do. You better hold on to something."

For the rest of the night, until the sun peeks through the mountains heralding a new day, he shows you the many different ways he's not sorry for taking you. Your screams are hoarse prayers swallowed by this monstrous demon.

A pact of life and afterlife, sealed with blood, cum, moans and growls.

Now and for eternity.

Tagging: @croatianprincess @delilah1990 @justsumtuffstuff @hanihoney88 @supmymainhuman @navyblue-eternity @gothicxs @julczimozart @loving-enemy @munsonswrld @cicaspair418 @out-of-life @krispold @hiatuswhore @nina2697 @tremendouswolfsaladranch @antisocial-architctect @patimasvibe @bellameshipper @maximizedrhythms @izzicle @eddiemadmunson @dark-night-sky-99 @deeeeexx @wasntpriscilla @darylandbethfanforever9 @malfoytargaryen @whyiminlove @pick95 @moonxhunt @tired-ninfa @fcbformulaeri @daydreamy-me @vyctorya @lovelymoonkiid @babyblue711 @zondereleutheromania @diosademuerte @spookymicrowave @lonadane @namelesslosers @chainsawangel @beautbuck @arcielee @ratfromdeepspace @brianochka

[arazune]

seems to apply only to B and up, and man you wouldn't believe how long it took me to get all of this

-------------------------------------------------------

Nightbringer Surprise Guests

Lucifer

I'm feeling good. Why don't we open a bottle of my prized Demonus?

1. Tap Face

2. Rub Head

3. Rub Chest

I know you want to give me a high five, don't you? Fine, just this once. Call it a special occasion.

1. High Five

2. Rub Chest

3. Tap Arm

Mammon

We'll be invincible if we Team up!

1. Rub Face

2. Rub Face

3. Rub Face

Hey, hey, hey! The Great Mammon makes his mark!

1. High Five

2. Rub Head

3. Rub Head

Leviathan

Haha, let's experience tha taste of victory together!

1. Tap Head

2. Rub Face

3. Rub Head

Let's great each other like Normies would!

1. High Five

2. Rub Head

3. Tap Face

Satan

We won thanks to me.

1. Rub Face

2. Tap Chest

3. (Rub/Tap Chest, Tap/Rub Arm, Tap/Rub Head, Rub Face) Tap Face (couldn't get one with more hearts???)

Is this how one shares happiness? Give me a high five.

1. High Five

2. Rub Head

3. Tap Chest

Asmodeus

A win for me is as natural as breathing air!

1. Rub Head

2. Rub Chest

3. Rub Arm

Come on, hold out your hand. High five <3

1. High Five

2. Rub Head

3. Rub Face

Beelzebub

Thanks to you, I was able to get through it despite being hungry.

1. Tap Head

2. Tap Head

3. Rub Chest

Not bad, huh? It's time for a victory hamburger!

1. High Five

2. Rub Chest

3. Rub Arm

Belphegor

You want to hang out with me? All right, you got it.

1. Rub Head

2. Rub Face

3. Rub Head

All right... you want me to hold up my hand, right?

1. High Five

2. Rub Head

3. Rub Head

Diavolo

It really does feel good to win, doesn't it!

1. Rub Head

2. Rub Head

3. Tap Head

All right, let's savor the joy of victory... Just you and me!

1. High Five

2. Rub Face

3. Tap Face

Barbatos

Was I of any help to you?

1. Tap Head

2. Tap Head

3. Rub Head

Is this where we do the so-called "high five"? Someone taught me how to do it.

1. High Five

2. Rub Head

3. Tap Head

Solomon

You're my best student, you know? As your teacher, you make me proud

1. Tap Chest

2. Rub Chest

3. Rub Chest

Hey! It felt good to win like that, huh? We make a truly amazing teacher and apprentice team, am I right?

1. High Five

2. Tap Chest

3. Rub Head

Simeon

I'm super excited right now, but how about you?

1. Rub Head

2. Rub Face

3. Rub Arm

How about we see whether exchanging greetings will deepen our bond?

1. High Five

2. Rub Head

3. Rub Face

Luke

...So how was it? Did I look cool?

1. Rub Head

2. Rub Face

3. Rub Arm

Okay here we go! It's time for a high five!

1. High Five

2. Rub Head

3. Rub Head

[arazune]

okay but imagine werewolf best friend kiba who has wanted and loved you for years. who has pined and craved and fucked a pair of your underwear and chased off so many 'rivals' behind your back.

imagine going away for college and reconnecting. maybe you go camping. maybe you trigger his rut earlier because he's wanted you for so fucking long that it can't be contained. him at the entrance, unzipping it, crawling over you, waking you up with his head between your legs and begging for you to 'help him out'. for 'just the tip'

but it ends up with him knotting and breeding you and you wake up with his mark on your shoulder and he's already pawing at you again

Finding peace in the spontaneous wild (that is you)

18+ MDNI, fem!reader/werewolf!bsf!kiba

cw: monsterfucking (he's mostly in his human form, though), knotting, creampie, implied breeding, mounting, size difference, omegaverse themes.

college/modern AU. friends to lovers, one bed trope (kind of, they’re sharing sleeping bags in the same tent), unestablished mating bond, mutual pining, lots of bickering and misunderstandings; they get into one big fight (kiba and reader are polar opposites personality-wise and tend to agree to disagree), usage of sweetheart and bunny as pet names for reader. i think that's everything?

wc: 26.2k

———

You run into Kiba at the grocery store, around two weeks after returning home from college.

It’s completely coincidental; neither of you expects it to happen. You catch him standing next to the fruit section, picking the best-looking oranges out of the bunch with slightly pinched eyebrows and narrowed eyes, and before you can even ready yourself to approach him, he already beats you to it.

He blinds you with his grin despite the distance between you as you raise your hand to wave him over. A single dimple that you were already expecting appears in his right cheek. His smile is toothy and friendly; nostalgic. It throws you back to a much simpler time.

After all, you’ve known each other for years — you and Kiba go way back. Back to when your only concern had been what cartoons to watch, and the urgency to come back home well before it got dark outside was a rule set in stone. 

Back then, the world seemed to be splashed with brighter, more vibrant colours than it is now. A sugar rush was the best thing to ever happen to you before you came crashing down twice as hard, and your mother had called you downstairs for breakfast every single morning before ruffling your hair and rushing off to work. 

Now, you’re happy if you get the chance to FaceTime with her once or twice a week while you’re away at college. Your hair certainly doesn’t get ruffled anymore and you make breakfast yourself.

Even the trees in your neighborhood have changed, no longer appearing as tall as they used to be because, well, back then you were the smaller one. The sidewalk on your street was sizzling hot with summer heat, but now it's getting worse each year, and your feet aren’t bare anymore as you walk on it; no longer trekking the familiar route that would lead you to the house of the very boy, who now stands before you in the middle of the grocery store instead of leaning against the open doorway of his childhood home, impatiently waiting to pull you inside.

You used to spend nearly every single day with him. Going on adventures with your bikes — you with your helmet on, him without — until your legs were aching from pedaling so much had become a daily thing of sorts. Constantly coming up with new ways to entertain your never-satisfied, highly imaginative kid brains was a favoured pastime. Wearing scrapes of all shapes and sizes on your knees and palms like they were badges of honor was a thing to be expected. 

But that’s all gone now.

Because now, you’re both adults. Juggling jobs and degrees — well, at least one of you is, not that you’re surprised in any way that Kiba hasn’t chosen to try his hand at college — and all that other crap that consists of time-consuming responsibilities that can be quite pesky and bothersome, but make your lives easier to live nonetheless. 

It feels like an aeon has passed as a result. Like your childhood had been whisked away from you by neither of you ever realizing it until it was far too late. So, you’ve drifted apart. It tends to happen. 

Come to think of it, when was the last time you’d seen your trusted partner in crime? Three years ago? Or has it been four already? You’re unsure.

All you know is that it’s been long. Too long. College feels like it’s been nothing but a rather confusing blur, to say the least.

But so does Kiba.

And so do you.

You’ve both become utterly indecipherable in each other’s eyes. Like foggy glass on a rainy morning.

So you use a couple of moments to merely look at each other because of it; to wipe the condensation off the glass with the sleeves of your phantom sweaters. Him, with those goddamn oranges that he’s still holding in his too-big hands, and you, with your shopping cart that you forgot back at the end of aisle 7 twice already. 

You stare and stare and stare, all until your burning curiosity finally gets the best of you, and you can’t help but invite him to approach you with a not at all subtle aim to appease it. 

Kiba visibly perks up when you wave him over. He shoves the oranges into a reusable bag that his mom had always nagged him about using, and walks over with that confident stride you’d always envied him for having. 

And then all of a sudden he’s right there, in the flesh. Looking the same as he’d always looked, but also not at all.

It’s weird. His smile is the same but the face that surrounds it has changed. Finding yourself in his presence again after a period that you’d describe nothing short of a small eternity, you realize that even if the grin of your childhood best friend is an exact replica of his old one, everything else has either faded away or been replaced by something new.

And new means foreign.

Because as you tip your head slightly upwards to initiate proper eye contact this time, you realize that Kiba has gotten taller. Way taller. Even with his posture relaxed, he towers above you with no effort; something he didn’t get to do back when you’d been nothing but a pair of runts, practically conjoined at the hip.

And that’s not all there is to it. Besides his impressive height, Kiba has also become broader in the shoulders and longer in the legs since you’ve last seen him. He has a sleeve of insanely intricate tattoos covering nearly the entirety of his left arm; it reaches up to the short sleeve of his light-grey tee and probably up to his shoulder. He’s also lost most of his baby fat, and thus now owns a face more defined than you ever recall it being. 

His mop of hair is mostly hidden by the faded baseball cap that he must have put on to fight the summer heat that’s raging outside, however there are still a couple of rogue curls peeking out at the sides and at the nape of his neck. The brim has softened from how old the cap is, not as bent downwards at the corners as it surely used to be ages ago, but at least it still gets the job done. 

He’s always had a habit of being lazy whenever it came to getting haircuts. It seems like some things did manage to stay the same, after all.

You investigate further. As far as differences go, the edge of Kiba’s jawline is sharp instead of round, and his cheeks look smooth to the touch. He’s clean-shaven; the embarrassing peach fuzz days, which you used to tease him about for months on end, have ended. 

He’s a grown man. A pretty darn healthy, vigorous one, it seems.

And speaking of being healthy, you remember a time when he wasn’t.

———

You’re fourteen again and find yourself back in a rather familiar bedroom.

The air inside the room smells warm, like wood and your second home. The sounds of the house are just the way you remember them being. 

There’s someone talking downstairs. Furniture cracks and snaps as it settles in even if it’s old and has had more than enough time to do so already. Dog claws ceaselessly click against the floor. The TV is on. You can hear the weather forecast for tomorrow if you strain your ears hard enough. 

And then there’s the shallow breathing.

Oh, yeah. Right. 

Kiba’s sick. 

Your smile wavers as you keep sitting on the edge of the bed, his bed, that you’d fallen asleep in a rather embarrassing amount of times back when your legs were shorter and it hadn’t been considered awkward or improper just because your best friend belongs to the opposite sex.

The sheets are a tacky design of light blue and white and the mattress is old, but sturdy enough to not cause any worry of having to buy a new one just yet. It supports both his and your own weight fairly well, however it won’t be able to do so for much longer, you think.

You turn your head towards the window. It’s fall and it’s raining outside — the heavy raindrops rattle against the glass every so often whenever the wind catches them, making you stare out at the foggy grayness that sluggishly spirals on the other side.

You’ve left your boots downstairs. In the hallway, where Tsume, Kiba’s mother, had greeted you and ushered you inside the moment you’d come knocking on her front door, looking soaking wet to the bone. Besides your boots, your bright yellow raincoat resides there as well, probably dripping from the hanger onto the floor, making a puddle you’ll have to feverishly apologize for later.

With your train of thought coming to a halt, you eventually grow tired of watching the nearby woods that reside next to the Inuzuka household. So you shift your gaze again. 

This time, you focus on the room itself. There are posters taped to the walls, the majority of them depicting movies and rock bands that you’ve never really fancied yourself all that much. The desk is littered with clutter, most of it school-related but you’re able to spot a couple of comics in there as well. The alarm clock on the nightstand is digital; it shows the time. 

3:27 PM.

It’s a Thursday afternoon, but it’s also the fourth day that Kiba hasn’t come to school. The seat in the classroom that he usually sits in remains empty — you know that because you keep it reserved for him by placing your backpack on it each morning. He’s been absent ever since the pain in his limbs and the unyielding fever had become too much for even him to handle; the boy who just loves to brag about never getting sick. 

All right, you’ve got to cut him some slack because in some way, he isn’t even actually sick? His growth spurt — and his entire puberty experience overall, if you could even call it that — is the thing that has taken such a toll on him, not actual illness.

And in some way, it has taken a toll on you, too. Seeing him ache hurts you just the same, even if your bones aren’t the ones that are currently growing much too fast, much too soon.

So here you are, bringing him copies of the notes that you’ve been religiously taking in class for the fourth day in a row. Keeping him company. Wiping the sweat off his forehead with a rag soaked in water, like a good best friend. Over and over again. Without stop.

His dark brown hair is damp from all the water and sweat, it sticks to his temples. He’s burning up, to the point that his face is flushed pink instead of tan, but he’s still shivering all over underneath the covers. 

Your heart hurts as you watch him endure such profound agony; it makes your chest squeeze tight. He’s clearly fallen ill in some shape or form and is in obvious pain, but no matter what you tell him, he simply refuses to go to the doctor’s office.

Truth be told, you feel rather surprised that his mom hasn’t dragged him there herself yet. Taking into account that she’s usually completely unfazed by his overwhelmingly stubborn nature, you’d expected her to not be taking any shit from her son whatsoever and would be firmly setting her foot down when it came to anything concerning his health. Granted, while he did inherit most of his obstinate qualities from her side of the family, the fact that—

“Stop worryin’ so much.”

You blink in surprise. “Mm?”

“I said stop worryin’.”

The feeble request that Kiba makes sounds firmer this time. It makes you look up from the rag you’ve been subconsciously clutching in your hands with a near death grip for the last five minutes or so. 

The slightly tingly feeling that dances within them now is somewhat hard to ignore. Especially at the tips of your fingers.

So you rest your hands on your lap, rubbing your palms up and down your jeans just to have something to do now that they’re empty. By the time you finally will yourself to turn your head, Kiba is already looking at you from the confines of the cozy prison that is his bed. 

His eyes are nearly half shut, eyelids heavy with lead-weighted exhaustion, but his expression is riddled with an emotion you’re not mature enough yet to fully decipher, much less understand.

Not that you’d ever tell him that, but you'd always considered him as the emotionally smarter one of your little duo; even with his awfully short temper taken into consideration. 

After all, while you excelled in academics, Kiba sought different places to thrive and prosper in. It didn’t take a genius to see that he’s practically been made to communicate with others; that he’s a proper people person. Shaped by people to be loved by people.

And the people do tend to love him. They really do.

Now that you think about it, that may also be the reason as to why he has way more friends than you. Why he can usually turn most situations to his favour, while you normally struggle to avoid the worst of outcomes. Why he knows how to read you like an open book Every. Single. Time, while you just play a never-ending guessing game of what’s happening inside that thick skull of his.

You’re an odd pair together. He’s nothing like you and you’re nothing like him. It’s no wonder that some don’t believe you’re actual friends at first, however Kiba has always been fast to prove them wrong. For some unknown reason, he’s attached you to himself and has been pulling you along for the ride ever since the day he first saw you. It’s been like that ever since.

Meanwhile, you’re just happy that you have someone to spend time with. Being so introverted proves to be quite a nuisance whenever it comes to meeting new people and acquiring friends, so he’s pretty much all you’ve got.

And that makes you care for him even more.

“How on earth am I supposed to ‘not worry’,” you begin to say quietly, making air quotes, “when my best friend has been practically chained to his bed for the last four days?”

Immediately, Kiba brushes you off with a flick of the wrist, gesturing that he thinks you’re overreacting. It pisses you off greatly, especially when he says, “Oh, please… I’m fine. You just worry too much.”

“Are you, though?” you ask. “Fine?”

“Are you?”

You exhale through your nose as you attempt to relax and wiggle your fingers, trying to appease him or convince him otherwise, you don’t know. 

The truth is, you want to tell him that no, you’re not fine. You want to tell him that you are worried sick for him because he is sick and won’t admit it. You want to tell him that you love him, that you care about him. Not in that kind of way, of course — goodness, no! — but in a way a young teenage girl who doesn’t know any better can love her best friend.

But instead, all you do is stay quiet because being considerate of others is your go-to. Besides, his headache is as bad enough as it is already. Who are you to make it worse by troubling him with your nonsense?

Unfortunately for you, Kiba doesn’t buy your rather bad portrayal of calm. All he does is sigh at it.

Continuously.

“What? What are you sighing for so much?” you instantly snap at the sound and aura of exasperation he emits, now. Your tone is razor sharp, much sharper than it needs to be, but you just can’t help yourself. Being so different from you, he can be outright infuriating sometimes.

“Nothin’,” he answers back, and yet he can’t resist giving you that look that definitely means there is something. “It’s nothin’, bunny.”

Your tone falls flat at the nickname he’s given you because of your rather timid personality, “Liar.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

He grunts, sighing again. “Oh, c’mon—”

“What?” you quip again. “You told me not to worry, so here I am; not worrying! I’m doing just like you’ve said.” 

The small wrinkle that’s etched itself between your brows deepens as the words rush out of you in one great swoop. It’s clear to you both that you don’t really mean them, but it looks like there’s definitely no sign of you admitting them coming any time soon.

“Fine, whatever.” Kiba almost sounds like he’s grumbling as he says, “You’re not worrying. There. Happy?”

You scoff. “No? Yes? I don’t know if I’m happy!”

He manages a weak smile at your indecisiveness, a mere quirk of an upper lip that’s not nearly as lively as it normally would be if he weren’t so sick. Your body tenses as he shuffles closer to the edge of the bed where you reside and nuzzles his face deeper into the pillow, wiping the sweat off his cheek right into the bedding this time around.

His voice comes across as muffled from the way he’s still hiding his face from view when he says, “I can practically see your brain catching on fire from all that worry that you’re apparently ‘not’ feeling, ya know.”

You can’t stop your eyes from rolling back as far as they’ll go. They just do it completely on their own accord whenever you’re with him, it seems. “And how can you possibly—”

He points at you with one tired hand and winces at how terribly heavy his arm feels with the action. It’s unpleasant and draining, but he wants to prove a point. So he keeps it nice and steady as he says, “Look, there’s smoke comin’ outta your ears already! You better chill out, or that lil’ pea brain of yours is gonna get burnt to a crisp or somethin’.”

He hisses like he’s just burnt himself after he teases you, drawing yet another scoff out of you. 

A pout graces your lips as you glare at him from underneath your lashes; ever the unexpected drama queen. “Well, at least I have a brain to burn, unlike yourself.”

His eyes settle on you again. “What’s that supposed t’mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like, dummy,” you say. “I can bet you five bucks that there’s nothing but hay stored inside that freakishly big head of yours!”

“I—” He bristles at your comment before his eyes open wide and he scowls. “Shut up! My head ain’t big!”

Your expression mirrors his own, now. “No, you shut up!”

“You can’t talk to me like that; I’m sick!”

“So you finally admit that you’re actually sick, huh?”

“No, wait, that’s not what I meant—”

“Nu-uh, you said it so you meant it!”

Everything is quiet as you lean forward to point and dig an accusatory finger into his chest. He tenses but relaxes in a beat of a moment as the remaining pads of your fingers join in and graze the soft cotton of his worn t-shirt. Swipe to the right, then slightly upwards, the flat of your palm rests above the place where his heart lies.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump! 

His heartbeat is fast. Strong. Like a song that makes you want to scream the lyrics to instead of singing them so that you can feel it better inside the marrow of your bones.

But you don’t feel like listening right now.

“Hey, what’re you—”

He squirms and lets out a small noise of surprise when you suddenly jab him in the ribs.

Exchanging a quick look of betrayal with your best friend as he slaps your hand away, you feel your lips start to quiver. It’s not long before you both succumb and break into a fit of quiet laughter. The tension gradually dissipates with every chuckle and snicker, right along with your worries. At least for a little while, that is.

Kiba’s laugh cracks midway. You’re unsure if it’s because of the fact that he’s not feeling well or because his voice is just getting deeper with age, however you’re still giggling by the time he clears his throat and reaches over to place his hand on top of your own.

Your eyes instinctively flit towards the contact. It’s not anything new, you’ve held hands with him before — god knows you’ve gotten fake-married on at least three different occasions throughout your childhood, and with three different flavoured ring pops, at that — but as you now gaze at the blunt crescents of his nails, you can’t for the life of you remember his hand ever being this hot to the touch.

It’s concerning.

“Dude,” you whisper, your voice slowly dropping from playful to wary. “I don’t want to nag you about it anymore since I know you don’t like it, but I seriously think that you should go see a doctor… You’re burning up and it’s probably—”

You twitch as Kiba gives your hand a gentle, albeit unexpected squeeze to make you look up at him again. 

Just like your voice, his expression has switched from his previously boyish one, to a much more somber kind that, truth be told, you’re not used to seeing on his face all that much.

It makes your sentence, well, rambling, gradually fade into silence as you finally indulge him for once by keeping your mouth shut. He used to think you were quiet back when he’d met you. Now he knows that you just have to get comfortable in order to start speaking.

Shadows from the swaying branches outside dance across the side of his face that he hasn’t got buried in the pillow. Looking like he’s contemplating something heavy, Kiba swallows the saliva that’s gathered in his mouth whilst he runs his thumb along your knuckles.

The brief attempt at soothing you manages to bring a smidge of peace to the otherwise growing hurricane of emotions that’s steadily whirling somewhere inside your ribcage, however it’s over much too soon to actually make any difference.

Your look of concern only worsens as a result. Concentrating hard, you manage to repress the sudden urge to start biting your nails and tugging on the sleeves of your cream-coloured sweater that you’ve put on this morning.

“I’m just worried about you, is all,” you admit what he already knows, so quietly that you doubt if he can even hear it. “I just want you to get better.”

“I know,” is all he says. He can smell it on you.

“Then why won’t you—” You squeeze your eyes shut, groaning with irritation. “Gosh, why won’t you just do something about it, then?”

“Because I have to tell you something first,” he trails off somewhat reluctantly, and for once, he sounds like he’s actually being completely serious. “You just… you gotta promise me that you won’t tell anybody.”

Your reply comes quicker than one sequence of his heartbeat, “I promise. Besides, who would I tell anyway?”

“I mean it,” he says. You watch as he shakes his head slowly, sighing for real this time, not just to annoy you. “You seriously can’t tell anybody; not even your mom or Sakura or Ino. Especially Ino, for that matter.”

Offence bubbles within your chest way too fast at the merest hint of distrust. Since when did he start thinking you were one to yap out every little thing he tells you? 

“And I really mean it, too,” you fuss, brow wrinkling. “Jeez, Kiba; if I promise you that I’m not going to tell, then I’m really not going to tell! I’m not that close with Ino and Sakura anyway.”

Kiba blinks, seemingly surprised by how heatedly invested you’ve gotten into learning his secret. But also by how close you’ve managed to squeeze yourself next to him with the upset feelings to overwhelm you, briefly forgetting the lengthy speech about how he should go see a doctor. How you wait, evidently impatient and with bated breath, just so that you’d be able to hear every word he has to say.

He’s been seeing you in a different kind of light as of late. So perhaps it’s time that he shed some of it on himself now.

He’s always been one to love the spotlight, after all.

———

“Well, well, well… do my eyes perceive me, or have you finally gotten taller, wolf boy?”

The short laugh Kiba lets out at your innocent taunt doesn’t crack like it did back when you were fourteen. Instead, it’s deep and hearty; it reverberates deep inside his chest, sounding like a voice a storm would possess if it had the ability to speak the human tongue.

“Still insisting on that ol’ nickname?” he asks as he rests one hand on his hip.

“Of course,” you reply, chuckling. It’s hard to take him seriously when he looks like a nearly perfect replica of his mother in that exact moment; standing so disapprovingly, red shopping basket in hand. “I mean, who would I be if I did not make fun of you every chance I get?”

“Well, I dunno,” he mumbles whilst his eyes flick up towards the ceiling, seemingly searching for something. And then he looks at you again, but this time with that infuriating half-smile that you can’t say you’ve missed as he says, “A decent fuckin’ person for a change? Maybe?”

It’s light-hearted, what he says. Fun and provocative, just like he is. Like he’s always been.

So you bite.

“Oh, Kiba, Kiba, Kiba,” you purr, angling your head to one side playfully whilst clicking your tongue against your teeth. Your hand presses against his chest, the action so familiar it’s become muscle memory by now even after years of not initiating it. “When has being decent ever been fun to someone like you, mm?”

And there it is. The strong heartbeat corresponding to the soft lilt that appears in your voice when his name leaves your lips. Just like it’s always done whenever your only goal was to fluster him for ‘funsies’.

However, the interaction that was once so familiar to you is not quite as recognizable this time around.

Because now, it invites his gaze to settle back onto your face rather than pushing it away into the corner of the room. 

So he stares at you now. Leers. 

You try your best to ignore the way your muscles instinctively stiffen at the sight of the prolonged slits that slowly switch places with his pupils. Try your best to pay no mind to the way your pulse suddenly accelerates, pumping blood and forcing all of your senses to become overwhelmingly acute.

It’s done so fast that it makes you feel sort of dizzy. He stands straighter and every single hair on your body stands to attention in return. Goosebumps cover your skin the same moment as it starts feeling like it’s being pulled taut over your bones. You try to blame the sensation of a chill creeping up the back of your neck on the store’s AC but you know better.

The people who surround you don’t matter anymore. This summer’s hit song that annoyingly keeps on playing on repeat over the speakers above your heads has turned to white noise. 

It’s just him and you and you and him. Past, present, future.

And fuck, his irises are no longer brown. They’re darker; golden, almost unnaturally yellow. The colour gets eaten up fast as the pupils expand and shrink continuously. He zeroes in on you, on your mouth, on the curve of your face, on the bare side of your neck that you’ve got exposed with your ponytail and the tilt of your head. 

It’s been years since he's last looked at you like that; that one time before you ran off to college, when you took it a step too far with the innocent flirting and you’ve almost come too close for comfort. 

But unlike before, he simply refuses to tear his eyes off of you this time. Refuses to relent. Refuses to blush and turn away in that sheepish way that is so uncharacteristic for an exceptionally, sometimes annoyingly bold person like him and that reminds you more of yourself.

His odd persistence causes him to pin you down with a single look, making you freeze on the spot.

Just like a predator would do to potential prey.

But that’s silly. You’re not prey! You’re his best friend, or well, you used to be once in a time long past. So keeping that in mind, you force yourself to quickly shake the eerie feeling off of your suddenly tense body as if it’s a heavy winter’s coat you’ve foolishly donned on, and ease the sudden tightness that tries so hard to take up residency within your chest, now.

But despite all of the attempts at self-soothing, as well as the countless comforting, reassuring mantras that you keep on playing on a loop inside your head in the same way you do a newly-discovered song on Spotify, you don’t really know what he’s like anymore, now do you? 

You haven’t seen him in years, after all. Haven’t spoken to him in ages. You left him all alone, left him to his own devices after he’d given you the same look he’s giving you now.

What if he’s managed to become more wolf than human with all that alone time?

The question makes your head want to hurt, so it’s no wonder that your voice comes out somewhat small-sounding when you finally gather yourself just enough to murmur, “You’re doing the thing again.”

And his sounds just a smidge on edge, just a smidge too sharp as he takes a step closer and mutters, “Thing? What thing?”

“You’ve got, uh… y’know…” You swallow audibly and try not to pay attention to the way his gaze slides down to your throat because of it; to the way it softly bobs as the sticky spit travels down, down, down. You swear that you can see the corners of his lips kick up at the sight of it. “You’ve got nightmare eyes.”

“Huh?” It takes him a second to realize what you mean. To remember one of the old codes you’ve come up with using whenever you’re in public, amongst people who certainly don’t know what he truly is. 

And then, at long last, the intensity in his expression ceases and brightens up as the realization dawns upon him. It’s like a lightbulb turning on with the flick of a switch. 

“Oh. Shit. Fuck, umm,” he curses like a sailor whenever he’s caught off-guard. It makes you relax just the tiniest bit as he finally musters a genuine, “Fuck, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even… notice.”

You watch as he proceeds to rub his eyes with one hand, all whilst you exhale a long puff of air that you’d almost forgotten you were holding in the first place. 

He looks at you again, genuinely confused and apologetic, and this time with pupils back to their regular circular shape. It causes some primal sort of relief that reaches the very core of your psyche to wash over you.

You’re free to move again. 

“It’s— Hah, it’s fine,” you manage weakly. “Besides a pretty awkward start to a conversation, it’s no biggie, really.”

“Fine? It definitely ain’t fine,” he retorts immediately. “You wouldn’t be lookin’ like you’re scared shitless right now if it were fine.”

“Me? Scared of you? Oh, please!” You huff, crossing your arms over your chest even if your limbs feel very wobbly and soft like jelly all of a sudden. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

He blinks again, his look a slightly incredulous one. “Don’t tell me you forgot?”

The bridge of your nose scrunches up in mild confusion as you ask, “Forgot what?”

Kiba grumbles this time, pointing to his own nose, “Uh, the fact that I can literally smell the fear on ya…?”

Oh. Oh! He’s right, you somehow did manage to forget that; forget his ability to smell how someone is feeling just from the way their hormone levels change the very base of their scent and the sweat they exude as a result. Or whatever the science behind it is.

Jesus fucking Christ. Him and his stupid wolf genes. What’s next, him pinpointing the day when your next period is due?

As if that hasn’t happened before.

“Wha—...? Of course not! Tsch.” You try to play it off with a click of a tongue that doesn’t manage to convince either of you. “What I don’t remember, however, is giving you permission to sniff me like some sleazy creep.”

“Oh, fuck off,” he bristles immediately at the remark. “You know damn well what I meant.”

You nod. “Yes, that you’re a sleazy creep.”

“Well, what am I supposed to do?” he asks. “Stop breathing around your presence?”

“I mean, it wouldn’t hurt to try.”

He gives you a pointed glare. “It also wouldn’t hurt to try shutting the fuck up every once in a while, and yet here you are.”

“Wow, I can’t believe I’ve also managed to forget what a prick you are.”

“Right back atcha.”

You both share a short laugh at your little faux quarrel, the tension slowly relenting. The entire interaction is familiar. 

His shoulders relax, your heartbeat slows down to something a bit more normal. He doesn’t point it out just for the sake of not starting yet another petty argument.

“But seriously, don’t worry about it.” You pause at some point, stifling another brittle chuckle that bubbles up your throat. “I know you can’t control your weird, spooky eyes, okay? And besides, I’m used to them anyway! Well, kind of… I guess I’m used to them…? Gosh, I’m rambling, aren’t I?”

Is it because you’re nervous?

“Still,” he chides, sighing. “It’s been years and I should’ve learned how to fix it by now. It’s just—” He takes a breath. Ponders as various excuses and half-truths start bouncing off the walls inside his head. “It’s just that I dunno how to control it whenever you’re… umm...”

You give him a second, but when he doesn’t say anything else, you bite the bullet to ask, “Whenever I’m what?”

“Ah, nothin’,” he mumbles whilst scratching his cheek. You narrow your eyes as he fixes the brim of his cap. As he tugs on the collar of his thin t-shirt with its stupidly oversized Nike logo. He’s fidgeting all over the place, especially when he feels the need to add, “It’s nothin’.”

It feels like life is repeating itself all over again.

Your curiosity makes you lean further into his space just like you had a habit of doing back when you were kids. Only this time, he doesn’t take your hand. He doesn’t stroke your knuckles one by one, but rather pushes back, creating more space between your bodies.

Well, that’s new.

“C’mon.” Your tone falls slightly flat because of the sudden disappointment that reaches way deeper than you’d expected it to as you ask, “Whenever I’m what?”

He sounds surprisingly stern as he says, “I told you… it’s nothing.”

A long pause ensues. And then all he gets from you is an, “Okay.”

Awkwardness lingers in the air once again. It makes you both uncomfortable because neither of you is really used to the sudden quiet. You’ve gone through so much, so many experiences together and now it’s come to… this? Walking on eggshells around each other until the end of time just because of that one event in the past and now this one?

Fuck no. As if you’re going to let that happen.

So you plaster a smile onto your face, one that doesn’t really reach your eyes just yet as you say, “Just so you know, you’re acting hella weird right now.”

“Well what did you expect, bunny?” He shrugs and you try to act like you don’t notice the way his t-shirt tightens at all the right places with it. Goodness, he’s changed so much in just a couple of years, you can hardly believe it. “I mean, I bump into you after literal years of no contact whatsoever, and when I finally do, all you do is argue with me and call me a, what was it again, ‘sleazy creep’?”

It’s hard not to giggle at the air quotes he feels the need to show you with the two words. It makes your face lighten up as you say, “Stop calling me that.”

“What, bunny?” He smirks, now. Smirks! “Sure. But only after you stop calling me all of your stupid nicknames.”

You muse like a cat. “Why of course, Jacob.”

His expression turns blank in an instant, the smirk gone as quickly as it came. “Seriously?”

“What? It’s just a name, isn’t it?”

“Just so you know, I still regret the day you made me watch Twilight with you.”

“Oh, shush. You loved it.”

You feel your grin growing into a genuine one as he scoffs and grunts something under his breath in reply. He’s clearly annoyed with all your bullshit.

“Mm?” You blink, the corners of your lips twitching upward, persisting. “What was that?”

“Nothin’.”

“No, no, none of that again. Out with it; I want to hear what you said.”

“Fine.” He rolls his eyes, the honey that swirls in them as dazzling as ever. So syrupy sweet, his irises are an utter delight even under the unflattering fluorescent lights of the store. “I said that you’re still as fuckin’ insufferable as you used to be back when we were kids.”

The chuckle you let out now is one of pure amusement. “Is that so?”

“Yep,” he says as he pops the P. “A goddamn pain in my ass since day one.”

You quirk a brow. “Am I really, now?”

“Who else but you?”

It’s always been you.

His words spark a sensation of genuine fondness to swell so deep within your ribcage that you’re somewhat unsure of what to do with it. 

Confused, you push it to the side. Sweep it under the rug and allow it to join the already big pile of all the other unrequited feelings you’ve never dared to express. It’s easier to purposefully keep your eyes squeezed tightly shut.

You can’t see when you’re already blind.

“Any-ways,” you sing-song, extending your hand towards him. “It was good seeing you again. We should grab a coffee sometime, if you’re up for it?”

Instead of replying and shaking your hand, Kiba looks down at your polite gesture and nearly starts to frown at the sight of it.

“What?” you ask as the slight wrinkle between his brows continues to deepen. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No reason.” He hesitates a bit then, swallowing hard. It makes his Adam’s apple bob in his throat. “I’ve just missed you, is all. This town fucking sucks ass when my girl’s not in it, ya know? And this whole handshake thing you’re doing is weird.”

Fuck. His honesty, the way he calls you his girl, the too-warm look in his too-warm eyes, fucking everything in that wretched moment makes you start feeling dizzy and causes sweat to gather in a layer so thick right on the flat of your awkwardly twitchy palms, one of which you’re still extending towards him.

What you wouldn’t give for a pair of pockets to stuff them into right now.

Because to be completely honest, you’re outright baffled by the reaction that your body throws at you with full force, now. He’s called you the same two words a million times before, alone or in front of other people — it never really mattered. To him, you were always his girl. It was that simple.

And while that did manage to stir up some emotions within you that you weren’t ready to acknowledge yet even back then, you always managed to play it off like it was no big deal. 

But those feelings have gotten stronger now, despite the distance. They’ve gotten potent. To the point where they’re almost deadly.

And they’re also sneaky, like a shadow grazing your back and breathing right at the spot where your neck connects to your shoulder. They gradually build up with each passing second of silence that hangs between you. They take their time to build up on momentum; like an avalanche or an upcoming tsunami. 

And for a moment, just for the shortest of moments, you swear that Kiba can tell.

But luckily for you, he seems to be oblivious about it, or is at least playing it off like he is. And that’s good! The least he can do after cooking up this mess, is save you the embarrassment that you most certainly don’t wish to live through, thank you very much! 

So you do the next best thing that is currently at your disposal. 

You object to his genuine affection like an idiot. 

“Whaaat? You missing me?” Internally cringing at how high your voice is getting in pitch, you’re almost positive that it must hurt his sensitive wolf hearing. However, much to your dismay, you just can’t fucking stop acting weird for some reason. “Pfsh… Didn’t anyone tell you that lying isn’t nice, Inuzuka?”

For fuck’s sake, you’re acting like he’s holding you at gunpoint.

“Uh… Okay? Hah…?” He gives you a look filled to the brim with doubt, his dark brows faintly scrunching together again. “Well, you wanna know what else ain’t nice?”

All you can do is nod. You’re on the verge of killing yourself right here and now.

“Well, how ‘bout,” he pretends to ponder, rubbing his chin. “Oh! How ‘bout forgetting all about your best friend the moment you start attending some fancy, goody two shoes college halfway across the country. Yeah.”

It’s your turn to offer him your best unimpressed stare this time. Your heart feels like it’s stuck inside your throat, pulse rattling behind your teeth. 

You can’t really tell if he’s joking or not. His tone may be light, sure, but you aren’t able to read him as well as you used to back in the day, and even then it was pretty bad.

He’s gotten… complicated.

Much like your entire friendship has.

You can still remember the almost kiss that never happened back at his place that caused this entire flurry of very, very confusing emotions to start in the first place, or at least present themselves at the surface. Right on the night before you’d packed your bags and ran off to the other side of the country, nearly fully ghosting him on the spot. Your best friend.

“C’mon, man,” you mumble, “don’t be like that.” The guilt is bad enough as it is.

“Like what?” he asks. As is regret.

“Don’t hold a grudge like you always do. I’ve come home loads of times between semesters; during the holidays especially,” you hesitantly retort, frowning. “And besides, it’s not like you weren’t gone all the time either. I saw your posts about all the backpacking and all those roadtrips and whatnot... With Tamaki.” 

The mention of his ex-girlfriend catches him off guard. He blinks, flicking his gaze towards the stacked shelves that suddenly seem to become like the most interesting thing in the world.

Goddammit, you’d almost kissed him while— while—

Still, despite all of that, you wait for him to say something first. Patiently, impatiently; you don’t even know anymore.

“I called,” he lamely offers at long last.

“Well, I texted,” you reply in a heartbeat.

“Barely,” he corrects. “You barely texted.”

Your expression falls somber in an instant. Of course he’d paint you as the bad guy as effortlessly as it is to breathe. It’s what cancers are known for. Especially cancer men.

“Well,” you stumble, shrugging. “What did you want me to do, Kiba? I-I mean, you had a girlfriend.”

“So?” 

He doesn’t even ask how you know that they’ve broken up. But to be fair, when you stop posting couple photos on your stories and feed and suddenly unfollow each other, it’s a pretty obvious tell.

“So? So?” You stare at him, taken aback. “I seriously doubt Tamaki would’ve been happy to see some random chick blowing up your phone constantly.”

“But you’re not some random chick. You were my best friend… you still are,” he says and Jesus on a fucking cross, the way he says the words makes him sound so fucking hurt. 

“I know,” is all you can offer. The weight that suddenly sits on your shoulders makes you want to slump. That, or either curling yourself into a ball.

The feeling only gets worse when he says, “We were supposed to go on those trips together.”

“I know,” you repeat. “I’m sorry.”

He fixes the brim of his cap again. “Are ya, though? Sorry?” 

“Yes! Of course I am!” You scowl so hard that it makes the bridge of your nose scrunch up in annoyance. “If I could do something about it, I would. Trust me.”

He looks at you; really looks at you. Up and down. And then he says, “Then do it.”

“Do what?” you ask dumbly.

“Go on a trip with me,” he explains. “Today.”

“Today?”

“Did I fuckin’ stutter?”

You stare at him. He stares right back, gaze unmoving. 

Fucking hell, he’s actually serious about this.

“But I’m… I’m not really a backpacking kind of girl,” you try meekly. 

Just the mere idea of going somewhere remote with him completely alone is making you feel warm all over. You need to get yourself out of this mess ASAP!

“No worries,” he replies faster than a heartbeat. “We can always go camping.”

You bite the inside of your cheek. “Camping?”

“Yeah. For one night,” he says. “I know a really good spot that I go to all the time.”

“But I–” You fumble once more, looking down at the pretty nail polish on your toes. “I don’t even have the proper clothes for it. Like those fancy gym clothes.”

“Heh.” You attempt to ignore the way his chuckle makes your heart want to jump. Especially as he leans in slightly to say, “All you need is a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. Oh, or maybe those grey leggings that you always liked to wear and that make your ass look great… Do you still have those?”

He snickers like a child when you punch him in the shoulder.

“And what about the hiking boots, you perv?” you ask, brushing off his lewd comment with heat creeping up your neck. 

“What about ‘em?”

“I don’t have those either.”

“Christ, we’re not going that far, bunny.” He laughs, looking at you in disbelief. “A pair of sneakers will do. You’re talking and planning like I’m gonna take you all the way up to the mountains like I’m some fuckin’ dragon or some shit.”

Your eyes surely must be getting tired from rolling back so much. “Hilarious.”

He waits on your answer with a smile; the one that shows that wretched dimple in his cheek and that makes him look entirely innocent despite the oddly sharp canine teeth. 

Goddammit, you want to kill him because of how cute he is. However, you’re still feeling slightly unsure about the entire thing. 

Evidently reluctant, you ask, “Just one night?”

“Just one night,” he confirms, nodding vehemently.

“And there isn’t going to be a full moon or anything… of that sort?”

He chuckles at the hidden question. “I wouldn’t really be out here shopping for groceries if there was a chance for that to happen, now would I?”

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true,” you trail off. You glance up at him, not fully convinced yet. “Do you promise that you’ll take care of everything?”

“‘Course,” he says.

“Say it, then.”

“Say what?”

“That you promise.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously!”

He sighs at how persistful you are. As if he’s any better! “Fine. I promise that I’ll take care of everything.” 

Even you.

Seconds pass. One second, two, three. Staring at him with both of your brows tightly knit together, you can literally feel his excitement transferring itself to you through some invisible link between you which you’ve never quite managed to sever. You suppose his emotions are just that contagious.

“Well?” he inquires, all giddy-like. “What d’you say?”

“Well,” you trail off, kissing your teeth. “I suppose… a single night can’t really hurt?”

“Fuck, yes!” he exclaims and before you know it, you’re being pulled into a bear hug you didn’t even realize how much you’ve missed until you’re caught in it all over again.

Your cheek smushes against his chest. Muscle memory kicks in once more; persuading your arms to move on their own accord, letting them wrap around the familiar place a little above his waist that doesn’t feel as familiar anymore. 

He smells good, like amber, the very heart of a forest and all things wild. It’s earthy, rich, inhumanly strong. It fills your nose, titillates your senses and makes lush greenery and spices start to take root inside your lungs. 

Every breath makes you dizzier and it’s hard to keep your composure as a result; especially when there’s a sequence of powerful thump, thump, thumps pounding right against your ear, now.

His heartbeat is so fast. It’s like he has two.

You’re silent as you listen to the quick rhythm of his heart. And for a change, so is he. Feeling unsure how much time is passing, you continue to cling onto your best friend in the middle of the empty aisle, reawakening all the memories, warming your body with his heat even if it’s hot enough outside to fry an egg on the concrete. 

The soles of your colourful flip-flops will surely stick to the sidewalk when you walk back home to gather your things and explain your unexpected trip to your parents.

“Kiba—” The last part of his name melds into a giggle from the way he squeezes you so tight that your spine pleasantly cracks in all the places that have been feeling way too stiff from the all-nighters you had to pull during exam week, and progresses into a quiet squeal for help by the time he swings you from side to side like an excited boy would his favourite toy.

“Ugh, m’sorry!” He laughs as he releases you, letting you plant your feet back onto the white tiles where they belong. “I just had to get that outta my goddamn system. It’s been building up for years.” 

“It’s okay,” you say, punching his shoulder again, this time playfully. “I always knew you were secretly a softy.”

The tips of his ears turn pink at that. The blush is not strong enough to be noticed by you, but he feels the warmth, feels the subtle prickling along the back of his neck.

Why is it so intense?

It makes his voice drop lower as he mutters a flustered, “As if.”

“What, I really did!”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever… But all jokes aside, I really am glad that you’re back,” he admits before you can beat him to it. He pulls back just enough to look you directly in the eyes and smiles. “I really did miss you a whole lot, bunny.”

It’s hard to be vulnerable and admit that you’ve missed him too, so you keep quiet as you plaster your best smile onto your lips again and reach up to jokingly flick the tip of his nose.

“I thought I told you to stop calling me that.”

Perhaps it’ll distract him from the fact that unlike him, you’re as cowardly as they get.

———

“Hey, I meant to ask… How come you didn’t bring Akamaru with you today?”

Some time after bumping into you in the grocery store, Kiba stills for a second at the innocent question you present before him whilst walking the narrow forest path that is supposed to be leading you to your destination.

In the late afternoon hours, the forest feels like it’s alive. There are birds chirping amongst the branches of the trees above your heads and warm sunlight filters through the leaves. A nearby stream keeps busy by smoothing down the rocks inside it. Everything thrives during the summer.

Even the air smells better; like it’s been thoroughly ridden of your town’s signature scent. But despite the fact that you’ve reached the point of summer when dog days are approaching fast, every inhale you take now feels fresh and satisfyingly cool instead of sticky whilst it travels down your airway.

It’s nice to be able to breathe again. 

And as for Kiba, well, he wishes he could say the same.

Following closely behind you, the young werewolf realizes that he is finding it harder and harder to concentrate the further progress you make on your hike. And while there may be plenty of reasons for his lack of focus at the moment, taking the fact that you’ve still got a lot of catching up to do into account, the main one is also the one that concerns him the most.

You just smell so fucking delicious to him, it’s insane.

He wants to devour you.

And how couldn’t he want that? There are phantom strawberries weaved into your hair and clothes from the matching shampoo and body wash set that you must have showered with before leaving your house. Sunscreen sits on your skin, turning the fruity notes even more summery than they already are.

If he walks close enough, he can even smell the sweat that slowly gathers on the back of your neck as you ascend the gradual slope of the hill that he’s planning to set up camp on.

So yeah, it’s hard to stay away, when all your scent does is lure him in. Hard to keep in-check, when you’re practically calling out to him, inviting him to come closer. He’s missed the way you smell so much.

God, if only he could just shove his nose into the crook of your neck and—

“Kiba?”

“Huh?” 

The man in question blinks now, looking up only to find you standing several meters ahead of him; hands glued to your hips and brow quirked. He didn’t even realize that he’d come to a full stop while thinking about certain scenarios he’d rather not say out loud for the sake of your well-being.

“Sorry,” he says before he awkwardly clears his throat and quickens his pace to reach you again. “What did you say? I kinda got sidetracked for a bit there.”

“By what?” You part your lips wider, huffing whilst trying to gather your breath. He looks like he hasn’t even broken a sweat while you’re literally feeling like your lungs are about to collapse any second now. To make matters even worse, he’s also skilfully avoided the pesky tree root that almost made you trip earlier without even as much as glancing at it. 

“You know what, never mind that,” you say, shaking your head. “I just asked why you didn’t bring Akamaru with us today?”

“Oh, umm… Well, ya know; he’s gotten pretty old by now so he can’t really make the trek as effortlessly as he used to,” he starts to explain and you don’t miss the hint of melancholy that overcomes his voice ever so slightly now. “Nowadays I just leave him at my mom’s whenever I go hiking.”

“Oh,” you mutter while wrapping your fingers around the straps of your old backpack which you’ve dug up from the back of your sibling’s closet. Your grip tightens a bit as you add, “I’m sorry about that. I know how much you care about that dog.”

“I mean, it’s not like he’s dead or anything, hah,” he says, his chuckle kind of bitter. “He’s just a senior dog now, doing senior things. Nothing wrong with that, don’tcha think?”

“True,” you mumble, feeling guilty that you’d even asked the question in the first place. I mean, of course his puppy would be old by now. He's had him ever since he was seven, for crying out loud!

“So, anyway,” you say as you turn around to continue your way up the hill you’re practically yearning to reach the top of now, “you just go hiking alone, then? Since Akamaru stays at your mom’s?”

“Mostly, yeah,” he replies as he follows suit. You try not to pay attention to how attentive you are to his presence all of a sudden. “Before, it was usually just me and Tam, but now that—”

You pretend not to notice the way he cuts himself off mid-sentence the moment he accidentally mentions his ex-girlfriend’s name. Pretend that hearing it doesn’t make your chest feel a bit too tight all of a sudden, and not from lack of air or your rather poorly prowess in physical fitness.

“Uh,” he fumbles.

“Don’t you get scared, though?” you continue as if nothing has happened, helping him out. “Hiking all alone?”

If he’s grateful for your assistance, he doesn’t show it, because now he sounds genuinely confused as he says, “What is there to be scared of, exactly?”

His question makes you come to an abrupt stop. You turn your head to the side so that you can look at him over your shoulder. “What do you mean, ‘what is there to be scared of’? It’s a forest, Kiba.”

“So?” he replies, sounding even more confused.

“Are you being for real right now?” The blatantly puzzled look that settles onto his face puzzles you just as greatly in return, now. 

Especially when he says, “I’m not entirely sure how you want me to answer that.”

“Well, I don’t know,” you say. “What if there’s, like… a bear, or something?”

He snorts at your idea, making you feel like you’re stupid for even suggesting a thing like that in the first place. 

“What?” you fuss, glaring at him. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, it’s just that there aren’t any bears in these woods, dummy,” he answers, the last word kind despite if it’s usually meant as something derogatory.

You scoff, rolling your eyes for the millionth time today. “And how would you know that, oh, wise, all-knowing one?”

Kiba pauses as he smirks, rather resting his gaze onto a spot somewhere amongst the tree line instead of you. You catch the slight flutter of a muscle in his cheek as he grits his teeth and exhales.

His voice is low, but confident as he finally says, “Because around these parts, sweetheart, I’m the biggest predator. And luckily for us, bears tend to keep to themselves instead of picking fights with something that is much, much bigger than them.”

You’re not entirely sure if you want to know how big he can actually get, nor how far he’s actually able to see with those wolf eyes of his as he keeps on looking off into the greenery. His expression is one of the most complacent ones you’ve seen in a long while. 

Still, you manage just enough bravery to swallow the thick saliva that’s now started to gather inside your mouth so that you can ask, “So you’re saying that you can take a bear in a fight? Like an actual living, breathing bear?”

“I mean,” he drawls, shrugging in such a nonchalant way that it only pisses you off further, “it wouldn’t be the first time.”

Your eyes open wide as your heart drops to your fucking ass. “What?! Are you serious?”

“No, I’m joking.”

Dead silence meets him from your side at his bad take on a prank. And Kiba — foolish, brainless Kiba — can’t help but start laughing at the look of pure, unhinged fury that starts to twist your features now. It makes your nostrils outright flare like a bull’s that’s been irked for far too long.

He gets startled when you start stomping towards him, though.

“I’m sorry—” He begins walking backwards to cause more distance between himself and the wrath that is you, laughter still escaping his lips. “I didn’t think that you’d actually—”

You’re too angry at him to notice how good his balance actually is. He doesn’t trip once despite the fact that he’s blindly walking backwards on uneven terrain; much less loses his footing or actually falls over.

His abnormally honed sense of stability only drives you more mad. By the time you finally catch up to him and shove him by pressing both hands against his chest, the startled little yelp he lets out in response is barely satisfying.

“Hey, don’t do that; I’ll fall!”

“Good, because that’s what I was hoping for!”

“Oh, c’mon… Hey!” He comes to a stop, grabbing you by the wrist when you try to strike him for a second time. “I told you I was sorry, didn’t I?”

“Sorry? Sorry? Oh, go fuck yourself, you absolute dick,” you snap at his half-assed apology and are practically gritting your teeth whilst trying not to pay mind to how his touch practically sears your skin. “I hope a bear actually does come into these woods just so it can maul you into a million tiny little pieces!”

“Aha… I’d like to see it try.” His eyes burn like a furnace when he says that. It’s even worse when he yanks on your wrist and pulls you closer, as if to prove a point.

The fire within subdues your own flames in an instant. It makes you lose your edge.

“You— You— Ugh!” The slight upturn of your nose almost comes across as snobbish as you whip your head away from him in one sharp movement and shove him again with your free hand, causing his grip to break free, but not because you want it to. “Go away.”

Watching you with profound amusement, Kiba thinks all your worrying is to die for.

Nothing’s really changed, now has it?

And as a result, the smile in his voice is almost unbearably audible as he hurries after you the moment you start walking again. Your pace has become much faster than it was before, but he has no trouble whatsoever in catching up. 

He’s right behind you as he says, “I was just fucking with you a lil’ bit, can you blame me?” 

“Oh, yeah,” you retort coldly, still not looking at him. “I most definitely can.”

“Christ, don’t be like that, bunny,” he says, nudging you in the shoulder with the help of his palm. 

The touch, mostly platonic and what you’d consider meant to be purely reassuring in nature, nevertheless causes your entire body to end up becoming overly tense instead. This is the second time that goosebumps outright tighten your skin as his fingers slide down and graze your shoulder blade, as well as one of the backpack’s straps before letting go. 

It’s hard to walk the path like a normal person, when every time he touches you feels like he’s leaving you burning in his wake.

“Are we cool now?” he asks when you don’t bother replying. You simply can’t.

“No, we’re not ‘cool’, you moron. Fuck you,” you answer when he nudges you for a second time, still fuming. Better yet, you’re the exact opposite from cool.

“Mm,” he hums, seemingly deep in thought. You think that he’s finally going to leave you alone, however, much to your dismay, not even a minute of quiet passes before he’s opening his mouth again, asking, “Wanna tell me why you’re so mad?”

“Gee, I wonder; maybe because you’ve got me losing my shit in the middle of the goddamn woods?” You scowl at him before pointing your gaze back onto the ground so that you can avoid falling onto your ass at the worst moment. “I mean honestly, how stupid can you get to even ask me that?”

“Well—”

“Don’t answer that!”

“Okay. Okay.” Kiba forces himself to stop the slight, upward curl of his lips at your agitated tone. This is not a laughing matter; or at least that is what he keeps telling himself for your sake. “What do you want me to do, then?”

“I want you to go away,” you repeat, exasperated at how he’s obviously fighting every urge to laugh at your bitter attitude. 

As is expected, he pays you no mind and instead keeps following after you like he’s a dog tied to a leash that your hand holds. You can hear his footsteps trailing closely behind. “And where am I supposed to go, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I don’t know,” you mumble, frowning. “Just go!”

“But I don’t wanna.”

“Well, I don’t give a shit.”

“Well, I don’t give a shit that you don’t give a shit.”

“Fine!” You huff, a certain kind of tightness in your expression when you look at him. “Fine. I’ll go, then!”

“And where are you gonna go, huh? There isn’t a single inch of these woods that I don’t know like the back of my hand.” He looks at you, his eyes glimmering with a subtle yellow shade instead of their usual brown. “I’ll just track you down like I always do.”

With the expectant, borderline mischievous look he dares you with now, he reminds you of an overexcited puppy. 

Damn him. You’re not sure if you’re irked or envious by how unpredictable and free-spirited he is.

It only makes you angrier.

“I don’t know, Kiba,” you fuss, looking away and pinching the bridge of your nose to save yourself from getting flustered all over again. “Probably somewhere far away from you, because to be completely honest, you’re annoying the utter, living crap outta me right now, okay?”

He stares at you for a couple of seconds, paying mind to the way your voice cracks midway. You’re clearly upset, frustrated, perhaps even overwhelmed by the way he keeps one-upping you with every sentence.

It prompts him to walk closer to where you stand. To lean into your space, carefully reach out and pry your hands away from your face so that he can give you that same look that he’d given you all those years ago when he’d been sick and you were swinging by his house every single day after school. 

The one that’s completely, utterly riddled with an emotion you cannot bring yourself to understand even to this day.

“God, what do you want now?” you ask, your gaze still persistently avoidant.

“I want to apologize,” he says, this time completely serious. When you look up, he continues, “I know that I can be… a lot to handle at times, and—” 

You purse your lips, mumbling under your breath, “Yeah, well, a lot is an understatement when it comes to you.”

He chuckles, huffing a laugh. “Okay, smartass; shush. I wasn’t done talkin’ yet.”

You glower at the way he shushes you, but otherwise keep silent.

“Now, where was I? Oh, yeah. I also know that it drives you up the wall when I’m a lot, so… yeah. I’ll tone it down, but you also gotta stop worrying so damn much, okay? It ain’t good for ya.”

“What do you mean by that?” you ask.

“What I mean is that you’re just always actin’ so goddamn uptight, bunny; I can sense it! So just… try and relax for once, yeah? Allow yourself to enjoy something that’s a lil’ bit spontaneous. Go fuckin’ crazy, go wild; all that good shit, ya know?” he says, and all of a sudden he’s resting both big palms on your shoulders, shaking you gently as if trying to rid you of your nerves. “Deal?”

“I wasn’t… worrying.” Your heartbeat quickens at the doubtful look he gives you next. “But yeah. Yeah, okay. Deal. Going crazy, going wild; woo…”

You’re soap-sliver thin. Transparent. Ever the complicator. That ‘woo’ was pitiful.

But it’s a start.

“Attagirl, there she is,” he says as he ruffles your hair and fixes his backpack back into place. It encourages you to do the same with your own while he slips by you and walks a couple steps ahead, letting you breathe again. “Now let’s go. We’re almost there, but I wanna get the tent ready before the sun gets the chance to set.”

“Tent?” you mumble, following after him. “As in… singular?”

“Yeah?” This time it’s his turn to look at you over his shoulder. “What, did you think that I was gonna carry two of ‘em on my back? We’re sharing; it’s easier.”

Thump, thump, thump!

“Oh. Um.” You swallow hard as you rub the spot where your heart lies with a sweaty hand. “Okay.”

He’s quiet for a second. And then he asks, “Does that make you uncomfortable…? ‘Cause at the end of the day, I can always sleep outside. I just thought it’d be—”

“No, we’re good,” you say, cutting him off. “I don’t mind.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s not like we haven’t slept together before,” you say. And nearly choke on your own words. “Wait! Wait, I-I meant like, you know, like back when we were younger.”

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

God, you’re thankful that he’s walking ahead of you so that he can’t see you experiencing your meltdown.

Kiba seems to ignore your little hiccup, because all he says now is, “Positive?”

You take a deep breath. Exhale. Clear your head just enough to ask, “What’s with all the questions all of a sudden…?”

“Nothin’,” he mumbles, his posture straight. “I just wanna make sure you’re cool with it.”

“Yeah, well all it’s doing is making me feel nervous again.”

“Oh, shit; okay, okay!” He turns to look at you again, his eyes wide. “We’re relaxing, we’re chilling… Look at the pretty nature, look at the trees! So zen, right? Real ‘live, laugh, love’ type of shit right here, yes, ma’am!”

Eventually, his rambling makes timid laughter echo throughout the forest.

What an idiot.

———

Ever since you’ve set up camp and settled on the small clearing on top of the hill, you’ve learned three things.

One, the stars are a beautiful sight that stretches far and beyond the inky sky when there’s not as much light pollution present to dim them out. 

Two, your best friend is a master when it comes to putting up a tent and starting a campfire.

And three, he can also whip up some really, I mean really mean s’mores.

That last one is why you’re practically humming whilst you sit by the fire that night; dressed in your favourite hoodie and continuously licking droplets of melted chocolate off your fingertips with utmost delight.

With his dark irises adorned with dancing orange flames, Kiba’s eyes can best be described as blazing when he looks up at you.

“Whath?” you mumble, mouth full of marshmallows.

“Easy there, tiger,” he taunts. “Leave some for the rest of us, will ya?”

“Leave me alone,” you answer just as lightheartedly when you swallow. Finally willing yourself to relax, your voice sounds muffled because of how you pop the tip of your thumb out of your overly-sweet mouth, “As if you didn’t eat like six of them already.”

“I ate six ‘cause I’m a big fella with an even bigger appetite,” he counters immediately. “What’s your excuse?”

“Well, if you must know,” you brush him off with a rather sassy flick of the wrist. “I’m ovulating right now and it makes me hungrier than usual.”

Just as you’ve expected, Kiba splutters and nearly drops the bottle he’d just been drinking water out of. A series of coughing and choking noises ensue that make it very hard to hide your satisfaction.

By the time he manages to collect himself, you’re still musing. “You okay there, Inuzuka?”

“Christ,” he says, his voice so hoarse that it forces him to clear his throat for a second time around. 

“What?”

“Nothing.” He swallows hard, Adam’s apple bobbing like always. “It’s just that you don’t have to be so upfront about it.”

“Um, okay…? I was just joking, you know... Didn’t think you’d take it as seriously as you did.” Your upper lip quivers as you let out a quiet, almost self-deprecating laugh at the look of guardedness that crosses his face when you speak the words. 

It’s almost like he’s conflicted about how to act around you all of a sudden. 

And it’s also the reason why you can’t help but ask, “What’s the big deal, though? Does it gross you out or something?”

“No. Gosh, no,” he immediately says and for a second you swear that there’s a blush tinging his already sun-kissed cheeks when he turns to look at the fire instead of you. 

He seems to be struggling with finding the right thing to say as he runs his hands up and down his knees and brings them closer to his chest. “You know I’m not like that. It’s just that… well, I don’t wanna think about it, is all. About you, in that kind of way, I mean.”

He can’t risk it because he can still remember the scent of it from way back when he was seventeen. Can still remember how dangerously good it smelled it to him.

God, you were so alluring to him. You still are.

“Oh.” Ouch. You don’t realize that you take his words the wrong way, so they sting you in the place where your heart supposedly lies. Nevertheless, you still manage to smile like the brave girl you’re trying to be as you say, “Well, luckily for you; you won’t have to, because I haven’t ovulated in like three years or so, hah.”

He perks up as his eyes shift back to you. “What’s that supposed t’mean?”

You shake your head, wishing to move on from the conversation but this time he strangely persists, pestering you to give him an answer even if he’d been the one acting weird about it earlier.

So you finally oblige, “Well, uh, I’m on birth control.”

He tilts his head to the side like a dog. “Why?”

Your brow furrows. “What do you mean ‘why’?”

He looks at you like you’re dumb. “Why are you on birth control?”

“Because I don’t want to get pregnant while having sex…?” you trail off. “Isn’t that supposed to be obvious?”

His eyes widen, dark brows shooting up so high that they could touch his hairline. “You’re fucking someone?”

Now is your turn to be taken aback. “I-I mean… I used to, yeah.”

Displeasure turns Kiba’s stomach into a pit of despair. He realizes that he’s not very fond of the idea of someone touching you like that. “When? And who?”

“I’m not telling you that!”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to talk to you about my sex life!”

“Why not?” he repeats, still oddly intrigued, almost nosy. “I can tell you all ‘bout mine if you tell me ‘bout yours.”

“Hell no.” You whip your head forward, glaring into the fire whilst grabbing the nearby stick that you used to roast — or should you say burn — your marshmallows with before. Poking the embers with it, the frown that’s on your lips only deepens now as you watch the sparks dance up into the night sky. “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll pass on listening to you talk about all your failed sexual conquests.”

He chuckles with what you think is amusement, but the sound is oddly strained. “What makes you think that they’re failed ones?”

You purse your lips. “Well, you’ve broken up with Tamaki, didn’t you?”

“I broke up with Tam for other reasons,” he mutters, his smile wavering for a slight second. “The sex had nothin’ to do with it.”

You don’t want to tread these waters and besides, it’s better to keep things light. So you sit straighter as you stick your tongue out at him, taunting, “Or maybe it’s just your insanely small dick that’s to blame, did you ever think about that?” 

“Oh, yeah, bet. It’s definitely small, all right.” Kiba huffs a laugh at your jab. And then he leans slightly closer; not too close, but just enough for the proximity to feel slightly more intimate than platonic. 

His pupils are so big that they remind you of two vortexes as he whispers, “Wanna take a look just to make sure?”

Sinful thrill erupts within your gut at the closeness and his rather sly comment. It shakes you to your core even if you don’t want it to. So with your train of thought becoming all fucked up and wacky all of a sudden, you turn away from facing him, feeling the heat from the fire kiss your already much too-warm cheeks.

With your voice merely above a murmur, you sound like you’re almost out of breath as you utter, “You’re so gross.”

“Eh,” he shrugs and crosses his arms behind his head as he pushes further back against the log you’re both leaning against with the provided comfort of your backpacks. “You’re used to it.”

“What I am,” you say, side-eyeing him, “is traumatized.”

“Oh, boohoo.” He pretends to pout, closing his eyes, “Big bad Kiba keeps on bullying me. Poor, poor me.”

You giggle, poking the embers again. “Remember back when Sasuke used to bully you in elementary?”

“Tsch.” You watch as he clicks his tongue, his eyes still closed. “That Uchiha twink definitely did not bully me.”

“He kept on saying how your teeth were too big to properly fit inside your mouth.”

“Mhmmm,” Kiba drawls, crossing one ankle over the other. His eyelids flutter open slightly, the orange glow from the fire further complimenting his tan skin and dark hair. “And then, if memory serves right, I bit him for it.”

“And then you bit him for it, yes,” you echo, stifling another giggle. It makes your shoulders shake as you tug on the sleeves of your oversized hoodie. “Oh my gosh, remember how pissed Mr. Umino got at you for that?”

“I think I got like two weeks of detention for it,” he drawls. “It was worth it though... I never liked Sasuke all that much for some reason.”

“No, I think it was more like three weeks than it was two? Because I remember having to walk back home from school all alone every day and thinking how it was taking ages.”

“Yeah?” He turns slightly so that he can look at you from the corner of his eye. “You actually remember that?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” you ask.

“Uh,” he blinks, his expression turning blank. “‘Cause instead of paying attention to the pain and suffering of your best friend, you were probably way too busy actin’ annoyingly obsessed with Sasuke, just like every other girl was doing in our year?”

“What?” Your eyebrows knit together at this newly-acquired information. “I wasn’t obsessed with him!”

Kiba turns to give you a look that outright spells bullshit.

“Come on,” you glance at him, head hanging low. “Don’t gimme that look.”

“What look?” he answers, still giving you that exact look.

“The one that makes me feel like I’m lying.”

The corners of his lips quirk upward. “But you are lying.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Ugh.” You scoff, playing with the strings on your hoodie. “Fine, maybe I did have a little crush on him. You can’t really blame me for it, though! Sasuke was, like… devastatingly pretty, okay?”

“So that’s your type, huh?” he asks, his foot dancing along the rhythm of a silent song you probably don’t know. “Pretty boys? Sorry, devastatingly pretty boys?”

“I don’t have a type,” you counter, ignoring his jab.

“Sure you do.”

“I seriously don’t.”

“Everyone has a type, though.”

“Not me.”

Kiba falls silent for a moment as he stares into the fire. You pass the time by watching the flames dance across his cheekbones; along the dangerously sharp line that is his jaw. His eyelashes are thick and long, and the curve of his nose is delicate and slightly upturned at the end.

He looks like he’s still deep in thought by the time he finally says, “Well, maybe you just haven’t found it yet. Your type, I mean.”

“Yeah,” you reply, unable to stop staring at his side profile. “Maybe.”

Or maybe, just maybe, your type is right in front of your nose.

———

What you also learn after stomping out the campfire and clambering inside the tent that night, is that even though you’ve slept in the same bed countless of times before, the entire ordeal is much different now that your best friend has gotten bigger.

Because instead of laying beside you like he used to do back in the day when you were kids, Kiba somehow ends up fully surrounding you this time.

He’s everywhere all at once, his presence and that warm amber scent filling every last inch of the small tent you’re both currently residing in. Being so close to him, practically wrapped in his embrace and with your back firmly pressed against his chest, feels oddly familiar even if it’s currently being executed for the sole purpose of keeping you warm throughout the night.

But it’s not quite the same, now that you’re adults, now is it? 

It’s almost… inappropriate. In some way at least.

“Should’ve brought warmer clothes with ya, bunny,” he mumbles at some point, his face so close that you can feel the warmth of his breath brushing the back of your neck. “You’re practically shiverin’.”

His drawl — even more prominent now that you think he’s half-asleep — makes your blood want to boil, and not out of anger. He talks to you like he’s trying to get into your panties, but you know that that’s not the case. 

He’s made it pretty fucking clear that he wants nothing to do with you with the whole ‘being too upfront’ situation earlier, after all.

So you take a deep breath to calm yourself — and hopefully whisk the confusing thoughts away that are doing more harm than good — before you murmur, “Yeah, and whose fault is that?”

He chuckles as he gives your stomach a single stroke, the sound lazy and laid-back just like the movement is. “Mm… I believe it’s mine.”

“No shit.” You sigh as you curl yourself tighter and shift even closer to his chest that is providing you with all this heavenly warmth you simply can’t get enough of. “God, I can’t believe that I’ve let you talk me into going camping in just my leggings and an old hoodie… I knew I couldn’t trust you.”

“Hey, now,” he objects, “you can trust me. I just forgot that regular humans can’t handle the cold as well as I can.”

“If I could trust you, I wouldn’t be freezing my ass off in the middle of the woods right now, Kiba!” You whine, annoyed. “Ugh, you’re always so reckless and never stop to think things through. Nothing’s changed.”

“That’s fair, I suppose,” he mutters into the dark, lips a firm line of seriousness. He always finds you so cute whenever you get pissy and say his name like that, but something with your sentence doesn’t sit right with him this time. “But I’m trying to fix it, aren’t I?”

“Well, so far you’re not doing that good of a job,” you pout in answer. “I’m still cold.”

Silence settles between you for a couple of moments. The only sound you can hear, or should you rather say feel, is the strong beating of his heart as it drums against your spine.

It turns a bit erratic by the time he says, “I’ve got an idea.”

You roll over to look at him. “What kind of idea?”

“Hear me out,” he says. “How about you take off your—”

Nearly choking on your own saliva, you try to ignore the way his quickening pulse makes your tummy tighten as you rush to cut him off with a high-pitched, “No!”

“Just hear me out, will ya?” Kiba’s voice fades into nothing as he rests his chin on the top of your head. He’s mumbling as he says, “If you get undressed, it’ll be easier to—”

“Nope! Nope, nope, nope,” you squeak out, quickly shaking your head, making him pull back slightly. “Absolutely not.”

“But you didn’t even let me finish!”

“And I don’t need to, because I know exactly where this is going,” you chide, brow furrowing so prominently that there’s a small v etching itself into your forehead, now. “I am not getting naked with you under the pretense of sharing body heat.”

No way in hell are you about to fall for one of his jokes again. They just leave you hanging in the end, looking desperate.

“Oh, c’mon; why not?” he says, voice so genuinely curious that it almost makes him sound innocent and free from any intent to scheme whatsoever. His fingers dig deeper into your hoodie as he adds, “I mean, it’s not like I haven’t already seen all your bits and pieces before.”

You push away from him so that you can face him instead, supporting yourself with the help of your palms. The inside of the tent is dark, so dark that you can barely see the outline of him, but you just know that he’s smiling; the little shit.

“Those bits and pieces, as you’ve so kindly called them, have changed a lot since we’ve last shared a kiddie pool, Ki,” you mumble, feeling heat growing up your neck and down your middle. It takes all the effort in the world to not let it slip to that tingly place between your legs, especially because there’s a calm rumble of a laugh thundering inside his chest, now.

“It’ll warm you up faster,” he pushes. “That’s all I want, I swear.”

“No thanks,” you refuse, fighting the urge to not shrivel up and simply die from embarrassment. “I’m perfectly content with waiting for your wolfy heat to reach me through the many, many layers of our clothes.”

“You sure?” he asks. “‘Cause it’s gonna be a long night.”

“Yep.”

“Absolutely sure?”

“Yes!” You squeeze his arm, digging your nails into his dark green hoodie as if in warning before you turn your back towards him again and shuffle closer. “Now shut up and go to sleep already.”

“‘Kay,” he relents at long last, sighing. “Suit yourself.”

“I sure plan to, thank you very much!”

“Aha.”

He’s uncharacteristically quiet as he settles back into the folds of your unzipped sleeping bags that you’ve overlapped just so that you can be conjoined together into a mess of limbs. And as a result, the silence to follow is so heavy. It succeeds in making you jittery as hell, as if the chill didn’t help with that already.

“Stop moving around so much, I’m tryin’ to sleep,” he fusses by the time it’s your third time switching positions and pushing further up against him. Unlike before, he sounds like he’s actually agitated now.

“I can’t help it if I’m cold,” you whine, rubbing your feet against his calves. 

The feeling of your socks gaining friction against his sweatpants is nice for you from the way it steadily creates warmth, however for Kiba it’s an annoyance that seemingly has no end.

It’s the reason as to why his tone comes across as an irked hiss when he says, “Yeah, well, that’s not my problem, now is it?” 

“But it is,” you reply, still running the soles of your feet up and down his legs. “You were the one who kept on saying that a hoodie would be just fine to wear.”

“No, I– Can you stop doing that already?!” He grunts, poking you in the side and causing you to jump. “You know damn well how much the whole feet thing pisses me off.”

“Well, wanna know what pisses me off?”

“What?”

“Being so cold that my teeth are practically chattering.”

“All right, that’s it.”

Your breathing staggers in the back of your throat as you watch him sit up so that he can start taking his hoodie off. He reaches for the back of it, strong back flexing as he pulls it over his head and throws it into one corner that’s to your left.

The white t-shirt he wears underneath gets tugged along, riding up his spine slightly. And goddammit, it’s hard not to ogle at him; hard not to leer at all the tight, defined lines of muscle paired with the contrasting smoothness of tan skin, at how his dark hair tickles the nape of his neck now that it’s all ruffled. 

But maybe if you’re sneaky with it, he won’t be able to tell? And besides, it’s pretty dark anyway and—

“Stop staring,” he says like he’s reading your mind. “There’s drool drippin’ at the corner of your mouth already.”

You gulp in response to being caught by his exceptional night vision. The sound is loud and embarrassing as it travels down your throat, at least that’s what you’re thinking. 

“I wasn’t— God, you’re so pretentious,” you manage to let out. “I’m just trying to figure out what you’re doing, you prick.”

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m getting undressed,” he replies casually as he repeats the same set of movements and takes his T-shirt off as well. “And judging by how much you’re complaining about the cold, I suggest you do the same before you freeze to death.”

You bite into the inside of your cheek to stop your upper lip from trembling with stress. “I already told you that I’m not doing that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

Something changes inside him at your denial. It makes him sound more tense as he says, “Can you please stop making a fuss for once and just do it?”

“No.”

“C’mon.”

“No, Kiba.”

“Fine, then freeze,” he quips, suddenly snappier than usual. His blood feels like it’s simmering. Wait, has it always been this hot in here?

Upset, cold and sticky, flashes throughout your chest at his seemingly careless words. “Okay, maybe I will.”

“Fine.”

“Fine!”

You glare at each other, fire and ice present in a single look.

“For fuck’s sake,” he says, trying to tame the persistent flutter of a muscle in his cheek that just won’t go away now. “Why do you gotta be so stubborn all the time? It’s like you’re actively searching for reasons to fight with me every chance you get.”

“That’s not true. You just don’t like it when I don’t comply with what you want,” you spit back, narrowing your eyes. “You’re the stubborn one.”

Another beat of silence passes between you and he uses it to inhale a deep breath and exhale it out just as slowly. It looks like he’s trying to calm himself, fighting every urge not to snap at you again.

“I’m just looking out for you,” he counters finally, his features unbearably tight. “I want what’s best for you, that’s all.”

“Oh, please.” You force out a laugh that doesn’t come from the heart. “As if you know what’s best for me.”

“And you do?” He looks at you, brows raised in challenge. “‘Cause how the hell is getting sick just because you’re too big of a pussy to take your shirt off the thing that’s best for you?”

Your toes start to curl with irritation under the layer of the sleeping bag you’re still tucked into. “I’d rather be a pussy any day, than an obsessively controlling alpha asshole who can’t take a no for an answer.” 

“Oh, that’s rich, coming from the control freak herself,” he says, nearly copying the same bitter laugh you’ve let out earlier. “You’re talking as if you don’t start acting batshit crazy whenever a single thing doesn’t go the way you imagined it to go.”

How on earth did this turn into an actual argument so out of the blue? Is he actually that irritated that you refuse to undress? Or is there something else to blame for all of this?

Either way, things are escalating fast.

Your face feels hot from all the mixed emotions you’re experiencing as you draw your blade and stick it into the place where you know it hurts him the most because he’s done the same to you, “I might be a control freak… You’re just a freak.” 

“You wanna talk to me about being a freak?” He laughs again, quieter this time but the sound is cold and sharp as ice. “‘Cause how can you call me that, if back when I met you, no one could even stand the sight of you!” 

He sucks in one breath, two, three before he continues, unable to stop, “No one could even talk to you. Do you remember that? Not until I stepped in, at least. So call me a freak all you want if it makes you feel any better, princess, but at the end of the day, I was still the one who put you out there while all you did was feel sorry for yourself.”

“You didn’t do shit!” The anger that drops upon your unsuspecting mind is like a thick, red fog. It makes your voice rise higher as you say, “All you’ve been doing for all these years, is breathing down my neck!”

“It’s not like I fucking chose to do that, goddammit!” Kiba snaps, voice suddenly gruff, heart pounding. His pulse feels like it’s racketing behind his teeth as he grits them so hard it makes his jaw hurt. “I mean, do you actually think that I want to spend the rest of my life wondering where the fuck you are and what you’re doing, when you can’t even put in the effort to text me back? Do you think that I want to keep being your friend, when you don’t even—”

“I didn’t ask you to!” You push forward, getting all up into his face as hurt sears the inside of your chest, making it heavy. “I didn’t ask you to be my friend, I didn’t ask you to keep trying to stay in touch, I didn’t ask you to keep monitoring me like some fucking psycho! I didn’t ask you to do any of those things.”

“You not asking for it is not the fucking issue, all right!” His face contorts into a look of prominent displeasure, the bridge of his nose scrunching. It’s clear how much you’re pissing him off; it’s making him say things he otherwise wouldn’t.

“Then tell me what the issue is!” You inhale, your own breathing quick and unfulfilling from how emotional you’re getting. It feels like you can’t suck enough air into your lungs no matter how hard you try. “Enlighten me, Kiba, please! Because quite frankly, I have no freaking clue what you’re going on about right now.”

“The issue,” he finally says, eyes bleary with fury and disdain, “is that I’m stuck with you. And guess what, you get to leave. I can’t. You get to fuck off to the other side of the goddamn country completely unfazed after every summer, and I can’t despite trying, because I’m feeling every mile of distance that separates me from you and it makes me fucking sick!” 

The words are like a waterfall to spill from his mouth, he can’t stop them. “You get to meet new people, you get to befriend them and sleep with them and love them, all while every. Single. One of my relationships falls apart because I’m stuck thinking about you, and only you. I mean Jesus fucking Christ, I’m thinking about you whenever I go to sleep, when I go to the gym, when I go to work… I was even thinking about you every time I fucked my girlfriend, who is now my ex, thanks to you!”

He ceases, breathing hard through his nose now, opening his mouth to say something, then thinking better of it.

Meanwhile, every single muscle in your body goes weak, almost numb. His stare is feverish and remains glued to your face; it makes you feel like you’ll drop dead any second now despite the fact that your stomach is doing cartwheels and high-pitched white noise progressively fills your ears. 

If there wasn’t a humongous lump jammed inside your throat, you’d perhaps be able to tell how dry your mouth has turned all of a sudden. 

But you don’t. So it’s no wonder why your voice cracks as you at long last look at your childhood best friend, the person you’ve always trusted the most, and ask, “So, you’re in love with me? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“Hah,” he snorts, the sound completely unenthusiastic. “I wish it was that simple.” 

“Then what else is there?”

“I’m bonded to ya, sweetheart.” His stare hardens. “You’re my mate. Always have been, always will be. Congrats.”

Thump, thump, thump!

“Mate?” Your heart nearly breaks your ribcage in half from how intensely it starts to pound at the word. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“It means… It means that I’ve longed for you ever since the first day I saw you, okay? God.” He groans, running his hand down his cheek, then the side of his neck. His skin has become so slick with sweat that it causes his fingers to glide. “And it means that I’ll still long for you no matter what you do, or how far away you go, or who you end up with... You’re a part of me. And I can’t do shit about it.”

His words make your head swim. It’s hard to concentrate because of it, the rising nausea only making things worse, but you still manage enough willpower to ask, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t—...” He inhales a long breath again, only one this time. And pulls a face you can’t read. “I didn’t want you to feel pressured by it… Like you were obligated to be with me or something, just ‘cause I was having a bad time.”

“So instead you decided to be my friend for all these years? So that I could have my chance at freedom and you’d still have a reason to be near me?” Disappointment flashes throughout your brain like lightning. You feel played. “Does that mean that our entire friendship was, like… just some ploy to help you get closer to me or whatever?”

“Fuck no.” His shoulders slump as he practically succumbs to the weight of his own body. The world feels like it’s spinning all of a sudden. “The bond had nothing to do with that; well, maybe at the start, but definitely not afterwards. I was your friend because you were actually cool to hang out with, despite being kind of a dork. Even if you were my mate, you were still smart, and nice, and… and…”

And it’s only then, when you close the gap between yourself and him to catch him, that you realize how high his body temperature has gotten. How his skin feels like it’s blazing underneath the tips of your fingers when you press your hand to his chest on pure instinct. How the blush that tints his cheeks is stark red; intense enough to even reach the tips of his ears and the base of his neck.

His blood has always run hot, you know that. But never like this.

Never like this.

It’s even worse than back when he was ‘sick’.

“Shit… Are you feeling okay? You’re burning up all of a sudden. Like, even more than usual.” Your voice trembles on the words as you speak, low and worried. It’s like the entire argument is forgotten in a blink of an eye just because you’re sensing that something isn’t right with him.

“No.” Much to your surprise, Kiba gives you a hard smile when you look up into his face. It’s covered with a thick coat of sweat again even if he had wiped it away just minutes before. “I’m not okay.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I think…” He pauses, letting out a pained sound that’s almost like a mix between a grunt and a whimper when you cup his face with your hands. “I think that I’m slipping into rut.”

“Rut?” You blink when he takes your hands into his own and hurriedly pries them away from his face, your eyelashes batting against your cheeks. The sudden rush of adrenaline that courses your veins when he starts to let you go makes you feel like you’re hollow inside.

So you cling onto his hands. If anything, they’re keeping you warm.

He breathes in again, every breath strained. “You need to stop touching me. It’s making it worse.”

Your brain feels like it’s turned to mush all of a sudden. All you can do is do as he says and whisper, “Oh. Y-yes, okay. Okay.”

“Fuck.” He scrubs his hand over his face for what must be the third time now, continuously wiping the liquid salt that just won’t stop oozing out of his pores. “Fuck. This is so fucked.”

Your eyes feel like they’re bulging from how concerned you are. His constant swearing isn’t helping the situation. “What is?”

“This whole night. Everything.” He looks away, clearly ashamed. Parts his lips so that he can breathe through his mouth instead of his nose, but it just makes him taste you on the flat of his tongue instead. Drool seeps as a result. “I wasn’t even supposed to go into rut for the next couple of weeks at least, maybe even a month from now... I think your scent might have triggered it.” 

After all, you’re sweet as summer honey. Honey made just for him.

And being this sweet, it’s no wonder that he’d subconsciously lured you out into the forest and away from other people under the pretense of catching up. No wonder that he had pinned you down with a single look in the middle of a grocery store as soon as you showed even the slightest hint of requited feelings. That he’d been getting impatient, had been getting jealous at the mention of other partners, had even nearly tried manipulating you into getting naked with him — something he’d never thought he’d sink so low to, for fuck’s sake.

All while the rut just stacked one symptom on top of the other.

This entire trip, every single one of his actions, every word, every look had been mere preying. Mere circling whilst getting ready to go in for the kill. After all, you’ve been gone for years, leaving him stranded. Catching a mere whiff of your scent — of his mate’s scent — after such a long time had been like an awakening for the beast within; a push for it to take over.

And that beast is ready to come out now. It’ll claw a way out of him if need be. He didn’t even realize it until now. 

Utterly blinded by instinct, he’d been played for a fool by his own psyche.

“Kiba?” you whisper his name cautiously, pupils still big as saucers as you repeat, “Hey. Are you okay?”

“Shit. Shit, shit, shit.” He exhales shakily, ignoring your question. “I-I need to get away from you before I—”

“What? You can’t leave me here! What the fuck,” you stammer out, eyes opening even wider in the dark. Ignoring his warnings, you clutch onto him again because he’s simply your only pillar right now. Rut or no rut. Whatever that means.

“Well, I can’t stay here,” he snaps in answer and now you can hear the mumble appearing between each word. His already humanly-questionable incisors are growing elongated now, turning into fangs and changing his pattern of speech. “You have no fucking idea how aggressive I get if I don’t get what I want during a rut; what you saw earlier wasn’t even the half of it. And I can’t... I won’t let you see me like that. I don’t want you to think—”

“I won’t think anything of you, I promise! Just… just please don’t leave me here. Please,” you quickly blabber out even if you’re not sure who the words are meant for; you or him. “Just tell me what you need.”

“No way.” He’s practically panting, every breath still continuing to be laboured as he says, “You’re not gonna like it.”

“Just say it.”

“It’s so fucking embarrassing, though.”

“Goddammit, spit it out already!”

“I—” He falters, huffing, only stressing you out further until he finally says, “I need to cum.”

The white noise that had just eased a bit inside your ears immediately gets replaced by the deafening ringing of your pulse. Did you just hear that right? 

“H-Huh?” is all you can let out as a result.

“I need to cum to make the rut ease up,” he explains impatiently, voice breathless, hoarse. He looks at you, the vein in his neck bulging as his jaw clicks into place again. “Fucking hell… M’sorry, I’m so sorry… for everything. You don’t gotta do anything if you don’t wanna, I’d never force you but— fuck, it’s so fucking hot in here. I can’t breathe.”

The moment you see him start losing his composure again is the moment that you spring into action.

“Here, let’s just… take it easy for a bit.” You blink profusely, trying to gain control of the situation as you ease him onto the pile of sleeping bags. “Breathe in nice and slow, yeah?”

“No,” he grunts out, tensing again in an instant. “That makes it worse.”

“Oh, right. Right. Sorry.” 

Moments pass, all of them feeling like ages even if it’s only a second or two, perhaps three. You spend them all by watching him like a shark in water, not sounding quite like yourself as you force yourself to step out of your comfort zone for once and utter, “Let me help you.”

“What?”

“Let me help you with the whole… uh.” Your rare, spontaneous decision makes your head want to hurt from all the anxiety it’s causing. “Cumming part, I mean.”

“No.” His cheeks glow red as he swallows hard. “You seriously don’t gotta. Like I said, I’d never—”

“I know,” you cut in, giving him a look of what you hope looks like determination instead of pure anxiety. “I know you wouldn’t. Besides, there’s no need for that because I want to, okay?”

Kiba frowns, looking the most exasperated you’ve ever seen him be. It makes his voice unusually quiet and small as he whispers, “Why would you?”

“Want that?”

“Yes.”

“I want to because you’re my friend,” you say and it’s the truth. “And I don’t care what it is that we gotta do to make you feel all right again, I’ll always help you out because of that, okay?”

“But I’m a shitty friend. I don’t deserve you helping me out; I don’t deserve you,” he counters. “I mean, for fuck’s sake… Look at the shitshow that I dragged you into just now.”

“You made it sound like you didn’t know this would happen, though,” you argue back, growing more backbone with your tone. “Did I understand that right?”

His teeth sink into the inside of his cheek, instantly drawing blood from how sharper they are than they used to be. He hisses, licking the now aching spot, tasting iron. “Yes.”

“Okay, then let me help you,” you try again, unrecognized greed and the bond you can’t feel not as nearly as deep as him pushing you forward hand in hand. “Yeah?”

Kiba looks at you for a long while. His eyes have gotten so dark that they look like they could absorb you whole when he finally opens his mouth to say, “Yeah.” His eyelids flutter shut for a brief second as he shakes his head, as if chasing the doubt away. “Yeah, all right.”

With his approval acquired, the couple of seconds to follow are like a blur. You don’t know where the sudden burst of confidence comes from as you coax him to lay on his back, but you’re happy it’s there because it keeps your hands somewhat from shaking.

“Come to think of it, maybe we shouldn’t—” He stiffens, the words catching in his throat from the way his cock automatically starts to twitch in his sweats because of the way your unsure touch travels down his stomach, now.

His dark happy trail tickles the tips of your fingers, caramel skin still so hot that you’re surprised he’s still conscious and capable of forming thoughts. 

“It’s okay, shh,” you soothe him even if your heart feels like it’s climbed up your throat again when he immediately pushes himself up with the help of his elbows so that he can look at you. You’re both trying so hard to not stare at the obvious tent in his pants. “I’ll, um… I-I’ll take care of it, okay?”

Your best friend’s chest heaves with every fast breath. All he can do is nod, the discomfort obvious as he says, “Okay.”

God, he sounds so uncomfortable but desperate for it at the same time. You force yourself not to look at him as you kneel beside him, feeling sweat gathering on the nape of your neck. Just a little while ago you were cold. Now, you’re burning up from how quickly he’s warming up the small space.

“Will, like, a handjob be enough…?” This entire thing is insane. Surreal.

You’ve gone from zero to a hundred just because he’ll go off the rails otherwise.

“I, uh, I think so?” His fingers curl, fisting the smooth material of the sleeping bag. He clutches it so tightly that it makes his knuckles turn white as he adds, “I mean, that’s what I do when I’m alone.”

“You jerk off during a rut?” The image of him stroking himself makes your stomach tighten and your throat turn scratchy.

“So many times. Ugh.” Heat spreads throughout your body at the groan he lets out, but it also warms his face into an even deeper shade of red. Talking about these things might be embarrassing right now, but it eases the tension. So he continues, “Sometimes I even have to take a couple days off work just so I can keep fuckin’ my fist, hah.”

The look on your face makes him inhale a sharp breath through gritted teeth.

“Too much?” he asks, that same look of dread overtaking his features once more.

“No, no,” you reply hurriedly, running two now-trembling fingers along the waistband of his sweatpants. The way his toned stomach trembles in response turns your mouth painfully dry all over again. “I just… I thought you’d rather venture out to find somebody to sleep with during a time like that. So that you can, you know… make it pass quicker or something.”

“Oh. Well, I did try to do that. But it didn’t go so well,” he answers, staring at every movement your hand makes with heavy eyelids. “Here, lemme… help you out ‘cause we gotta speed things up a bit. I’m so sorry… God.”

Your breath hitches when his too-warm hand cups your smaller one and wraps it around the prominent bulge in his sweatpants without any sort of hesitance, but with palpable urgency instead. 

He curls your fingers around the ridge of his clothed cock until you can feel out the shape of it. And then he stills completely, giving you time to pull back if you change your mind about the entire thing despite that every cell of him wants to roar.

But you never do. 

No, instead all you do is succumb to the moment and start to stroke him the way he’s shown you — slowly at first.

“Fuck, okay… That’s it,” he whispers, broad shoulders tensing at the touch. His fingers twitch, tightening their grip on the sleeping bag.

The praise is like a flame and it licks your skin. Feeling how big he is getting under the cotton now, how fucking huge he’s growing, makes your saliva thick and your voice wobbly as you whisper, “Like that?”

“Mhmm, yeah.” He sighs before yet another curse spills past his parted lips. There’s drool gathering on the surface of his sharp fangs by the time he urges you on. When he swallows it, it’s audible. 

Somehow, it succeeds in making you feel better, more relaxed. The fact that he’s just as nervous as you are helps. 

So you let your lips quirk upwards briefly as you say, “Now you’re the one that’s got drool dripping from the corner of your mouth, huh?” 

“Yeah, sorry.” He huffs a laugh. “This whole thing is pretty new to me. Makes my body act all sorts of weird.”

You blink. “A handjob is new to you?”

He shakes his head, looking down at his lap with a blush so prominent that it makes his entire face tingle. “No, I meant like a mate’s touch.”

“Oh.” You offer him a nervous smile, readjusting yourself on your legs. “Well, um… enjoy it while it lasts, hah?”

Kiba doesn’t say anything in answer. Neither do you. Maybe he’s afraid of what this will mean for your friendship afterwards. Maybe you both are. But with each passing minute, you slowly ease yourself into your sinful ministrations. Your strokes turn less rigid, the hesitance replaced with cautious intent, but intent nevertheless.

The waistband of his sweatpants gradually slips lower and lower down his hips as you keep going. A glob of your saliva gets involved; transferring from your pursed lips, to your palm, to his cock that has finally been freed from the too-tight confines of his clothes and is now being spoiled by skin on skin contact.

Even if Kiba remains in his — mostly — human form, you soon learn that werewolf cock is vastly different from a human one. In the dark, you can’t see it quite well, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t feel the difference. 

It’s bigger, harder, hotter to the touch than any you’ve previously had. It throbs and practically leaks pre-cum, nearly making you think that you didn’t even have to spit into your palm in the first place. In fact, it’s so lubed up that there are wet, almost squishy noises by the time his hips start to buck upwards and he starts fucking your fist.

You’re hovering over him, your face merely inches away from his own from how close you’ve gotten during the entire ordeal. If you thought he was panting before, now he’s nearly hyperventilating as he rasps, “F-fuck, mm… faster. Go faster, bunny. It feels s’good.”

His voice has turned into a growl of some kind; it’s the lewdest you’ve ever heard him speak. Because even with all the dirty jokes, and the questionable looks, and the sometimes too-long hugs which you’ve exchanged throughout the years, Kiba has always, always been respectful of your boundaries and limits.

But he really pushes that limit, really steps on that already thin line when he suddenly rests his forehead against your own and asks, “Are you gonna let me kiss you?”

Your thoughts turn fuzzy in an instant at the request, as well as at the nearly non-existent proximity. This isn’t about helping him out anymore, this is about feelings. Feelings that you’re very much still trying to understand. 

And feelings are dangerous, when you know that being friends is best for you. After all, you’re so different from each other — polar opposites. But you feel the invisible link that connects you to him now a bit better than you did before, feel it tugging you towards him; closer and closer, even if you’re merely human. Every touch makes it stronger and alters your brain chemistry, alters the way you see him.

It feels like you’re gradually starting to share every breath, like your heartbeats are aligning and will keep on aligning all until they’ll start to beat as one. Like you’re fusing together; he’s becoming you at the same time you’re becoming him.

You have no clue how he’s managed to endure all of this for such a long time, surely feeling it at least ten times stronger than you do. And in a way, it’s scary. All these emotions are making you feel overwhelmed and the worst part is that they’re not nearly as deep yet as his are.

You stare at him. He stares right back with dark eyes full of what you think is good intention. 

Your lips quiver as you whisper, “Do you think kissing is a good idea?”

“It’s just a couple of kisses, bunny,” he answers way too fast, quietly whimpering when your thumb swipes over his sensitive cockhead, turning tacky because of the bead of pre-cum there. He’s so needy that he feels like it’s going to kill him. The rut has outright cooked his brain by now, and that makes him pushy — he’s warned you about it. “It’s not like it’s gonna change anything between us.”

You look at him again, still sceptic. Your grip around his cock tightens as you think. “I dunno...”

“C’mon. Please, please, please,” he urges, feeling even more hot and bothered and desperate at how godly it feels when you stroke his cock. Up and down, up and down, up and down — he’s going to go batshit crazy. “Didn’t you tell me that you were gonna be a bit more spontaneous tonight? Hmm?”

You stare at him from underneath your lashes, feeling just a little less doubtful from how he pleads for it. Despite being perplexed about the entire situation, his uncharacteristic rambling and babbling and the constant need to challenge you proves to be like a push forward that you need in order to press your lips against his own.

So you gather your courage and lean in. And of course, he meets you halfway in an instant — even faster than that. 

The kiss itself is messy when you connect. It’s more so a clash of teeth and swapping of runny saliva, than it is a loving peck. He craves for you so bad that before you can even take a breath in, he’s nudging your bottom lip with his tongue, trying to make you part your lips a fraction wider; to part just enough for him to slip his tongue inside.

You let out a little ‘mmph!’ sound at how intense he is with it and how he cups one side of your face with his hand, literally forcing you to open up for him by pressing his thumb underneath your jaw.

“Hey—”

And it’s the opening he’s been looking for. He pushes his tongue inside, gliding it over your front teeth, tasting the roof of your mouth, exploring it like he’ll never get another chance to do so again — perhaps he won’t, who knows? 

So he hits you like a tidal wave and kisses you like he’s planning to eat you — it’s riveting as much as it is intimidating. Spit gets swapped with each sloppy kiss that gets shared between you now, some of it bridging the small gap between your mouths whenever you push him back just enough to come back for air. His large canine teeth bump against your own normal-sized ones. The occasional click! is enough to make your blood run hot.

And surprisingly, in the midst of all this chaos, you realize that kissing him feels right. It’s by no means romantic or a profession of love, but it is natural and synchronized in its own peculiar way. Somehow, it even makes sense. Like parts are connecting, like the image is getting clearer, like puzzle pieces are falling into place.

All those feelings that you’ve shoved down and blinded yourself from for literal years are rushing to the surface now. You feel like you’re going to burst.

In a way, Kiba feels the same.

“I, ah… I think m’gonna cum soon... Kissing you feels so hot.” He groans when he feels you falter, body tensing at how low his voice has gotten. His cock is nearly pulsating in your palm by now and he has to remind you to continue by helping you out with his own hand. “Fuck, keep goin’, keep goin’. Don’t stop now; I didn’t tell ya to stop, did I?”

Flustered and incredibly overwhelmed by everything that is happening, you do as he says because following orders — even frantic, growly ones — is familiar and comforting as a result. 

You let him sloppily fuck your fist as you tighten the hold of your fingers and loosen your wrist so that he can get what he needs to bring himself to his finish. All while he’s practically shoving his tongue down your throat, kissing you with such a burning passion that it feels like you’ll be engulfed in flames and turned into ashes any second now.

Heat steadily builds up within Kiba’s stomach. Sweat pours out of every pore all over again, making his hair stick to his forehead. His toes curl, his balls tighten. His throat gets all scratchy and dry. His brow furrows so deeply that it gives him a headache as he squeezes his eyes shut and just feels.

“Yeah… Just a lil’— fuck, yes, yes…!”

You go faster. And when he finally does tip over the edge and cums, it’s insane. 

His movements spasm, broad shoulders tense up to the point of pain. And then he’s literally growling into your mouth; making your lips and the inside of your throat vibrate as he becomes undone.

Your heart stutters at the sound. And when you feel his warm, sticky seed steadily fill your hand, it begins to dance inside your chest.

After all, there’s a literal fuckload of it, perhaps even more. His release dribbles past your knuckles and soils his sweatpants. It gushes out of him, ropes of it, all tacky and cloudy white and potent. You’ve never seen a man produce so much cum, especially not because of you. 

The sight, no, the feel of it makes you rub your thighs together as you squeeze every last droplet out of him. Before you know it, there’s a tingly sensation growing in intensity between your legs. A certain kind of heat pooling at the apex of your thighs, a certain kind of stickiness that causes your underwear to cling to your most private part.

Unsure of the reason as to why his pleasure affects you so strongly, the presence of your sudden arousal takes you by surprise and thus only makes you even more nervous as your core temperature scales higher, higher, higher.

You flinch when he kisses the corner of your swollen, kiss-bruised lips. Your cheek. Your neck. And it’s in that spot, where the curve of your shoulder starts, that he finally rests his sweat-riddled forehead and croaks out a very exhausted and very grateful, “Thank you.”

Kiba sags before you can reply, resting a great part of his weight against you and nearly making you stumble backwards because of it. Despite all of the confusion that riddles your mind at that moment, you can’t help but simply hold your best friend upright, repeatedly weaving your clean fingers through his now-damp hair in meek attempt of soothing him.

“It’s okay,” you whisper, trying to ignore the way your stomach feels like it’s doing flips. Who knew you had such an effect on him? Or he on you? “You’re okay. I-I mean, you’re messy, but you’re okay.”

Long moments pass. It’s hard to tell in the dark how much time has passed exactly when your phone is nowhere to be seen, but judging by how your fingers are still tacky with his now mostly dried up release, it must have been a couple of minutes at least.

“God, I didn’t think there'd be so much cum, heh... My bad,” he grunts at some point, pulling you out of your thoughts with the way he rubs the sweat on his forehead into your hoodie. Before you can scold him for it, he’s already back to burying his face into the crook of your neck, inhaling deeply and trying to tame his breaths. 

His exhales are warm and ticklish. They make you snicker as you try to push away from him, hiding the sensitive spot with the help of your chin. “What’re you doing?”

“Sniffin’ you,” he answers with a matter-of-fact tone, as if it’s the most normal thing for a person to do.

“Well, stop it! I already told you that it’s weird back at the store.”

“Ahh, but you smell so good.”

Another smile kicks the corners of your lips upward. You’ve always liked the little compliments he gives you. This time it’s no different. “Do I, now?”

“Mhmm,” he nearly purrs, nuzzling his nose even further into your neck until he’s got it practically smushed against your pulse point, causing it to wrinkle slightly at the bridge. “It’s sweeter than usual though, your scent. How are you feelin’?”

Ba-dum.

“Oh, you know,” you mumble, trying to ignore the way your heart skips a beat. Can he tell what you’re experiencing? “A bit overwhelmed by everything that’s happened just now, but I’m fine otherwise... I think.”

A little moment of silence ensues. You’re just about to tease him and ask if he’s done interrogating you when he rasps, “You’re sure? ‘Cause I can definitely smell something other than ‘fine’ and ‘overwhelmed’.”

He sounds different again. More gruff. More tense. More demanding of an answer. 

It makes you feel cornered all of a sudden.

Before you can move, he pulls back just enough to press the side of his face against your own as he waits for your answer; perhaps giving you the comfort of avoiding eye contact, perhaps just to feel more physical touch — you don’t know. 

So, you’re cheek to cheek, now. Chest to chest. Muscle to muscle. The distance between you is nearly non-existent as you each stare at opposite corners of the tent. 

His stubble scrapes your face. Wasn’t he clean-shaven just this morning? 

Your breath warms his shoulder as he utters, “Well?”

“Yeah,” you answer as the slight prickle in your cheek yanks you back from the haze that is your thought process. Your voice is once again as wobbly as your legs are getting. It’s hard to concentrate when he’s so close. “I’m sure.”

“‘Kay,” he trails off, still not convinced. “How ‘bout…” 

Slowly, ever so slowly, Kiba leans down to press his lips to your neck again and leaves another tender kiss there, sending shivers down your spine. “Now?”

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum!

You’re quiet, but your fingers tangle into his dark hair as you latch onto him for support in a mere instant, even you’re surprised by it. The way you can feel his sharp canines grazing your throat is exhilarating. Brain working purely on autopilot, you tug at the roots at the back of his head the same moment as your eyelids flutter shut. You simply can’t help yourself.

Perhaps this bond that he’s been telling you about isn’t something only he can experience, after all.

“And now…?” he utters so softly that you can barely hear him over the sound of your quickening pulse. His hand glides from between your shoulder blades, down to the small of your back and goddammit, his palm is so broad; it’s almost comical how big of a portion of you it manages to cover. “How do you feel now?” 

“Good. I feel… good,” is all you can answer with this time. Your voice sounds so small as his touch travels over the curve of your ass and rounds the corner by landing on the front of your thigh instead. 

You don’t fail to notice the way his calloused fingertips start to glide upwards now that they’re on your leg. The claws, that must have replaced his nails at some point when you weren’t paying that much attention, drag against the stretchy material of your leggings; playful, taunting. 

It’s all so slow. Deliberate.

The sudden burst of adrenaline that rushes through your veins and nestles deep inside your belly makes you fidgety, but he keeps you nice and steady by holding the side of your head with his other hand. 

Those claws are at your inner thigh now, only inching higher.

Higher, higher, higher.

And his lips are right next to your ear as he whispers a what you could only call an exceptionally needy, “Yeah?”

“Yea-ah!” A little gasp that’s more of a moan than anything else slips out from the way he unexpectedly cups your clothed pussy into the palm of his hand.

“Scent doesn’t lie, bunny,” he says, chuckling darkly. “You should keep that in mind when you’re around someone like me, y’know.”

Shit. You’re in for it now, aren’t you? His touch is scorching hot again even through the two layers of clothes that separates you from him.

It only spurs you into action, almost making you start to grind against him as you arch your back and press yourself closer.

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum! 

Your heart feels like it’s on the verge of giving out.

“We should stop, K-Ki—” You don’t succeed in saying his name fully when he applies more pressure to make you reconsider. 

The heel of his palm presses right against your clit this time. Breathless and unsure if it’s done on purpose or merely by some lucky accident, you jolt, trying to squeeze your thighs together.

He catches you when you sag against him, much like you’ve previously done when he had been the one struggling to stay upright. And surprise, surprise — he’s hard all over again. Ready to go for round two, his cock starts poking your thigh whenever you move, leaving little splotches of sticky pre-cum there. 

It causes a second heatwave to hit you as filthy thoughts begin flooding your mind. Pussy dripping at the mere idea of him attempting to push that fat, monstrous cock inside you, you let out a little sound of panic when he presses his finger right on the spot where your tight little hole is hiding under the leggings.

“Oh, you liked that, huh?” You can’t see it, but he smirks into the dark; fangs glinting with the wolfish grin that’s gotten so conceited that it hurts. “Look at that… Lil’ bunny is getting all worked up from a bit of heavy petting.”

“Am not!” you stammer with feverish need, licking your lips as your nails dig into his scalp and you grab yet another fistful of his chestnut-coloured hair. “Stop teasing me… I-I’m just— Ugh…”

“I’ll stop if you let me take your clothes off already so that I can lick you and fuck you like you obviously wanna be fucked,” he says, rubbing tight little circles right into that little button that makes you feel like there is electricity running through your veins, not blood. “How does that sound? Or are you just gonna keep grindin’ that little pussy of yours into my hand for the rest of the night?”

Before you can answer, he slides up and down your slit, making your cunt eat up your underwear and leggings, shaping it out. Your knees buckle as you rest all of your weight against him, trusting him that he’ll hold you upright.

But the problem is that he doesn’t. Instead, Kiba uses the hand that he’s holding the side of your head with to help lay you down. 

Until you’re right underneath him.

And just like that, he’s on top of you, breathing in your scent with almost a sense of urgency whilst his hand still keeps on rubbing that overwhelmingly sensitive spot between your legs. Keeps on provoking it and keeps on making you so horny that you’re barely any better than a cat in heat.

With every stroke, he’s making you hot and bothered all over again. Making you buck your hips to the rhythm of his fingers. Making you sweat and whine and borderline sniffle as the upcoming tears of pent-up sexual frustration sting your waterline.

You’re about to go batshit crazy if he doesn’t do something other than pet you.

So it’s no wonder that you whimper and allow him to undress you one piece of clothing at a time, until you’ve got nothing else on but your colourful socks and your plain cotton panties are dangling from one ankle. That you let him kiss you down your neck and chest, until he’s nosing his way between your legs and licking you with that inhumanly coarse tongue to his heart’s content.

That you let him feast upon you like a man starved even if he is more monster than man; until your legs are trembling around his head and you’re seeing stars behind closed eyelids. That you let him devour your sweetness and inhale such deep, long breaths of its scent, despite that you’re feeling slightly embarrassed about it after telling him that you’re all ‘sweaty and gross’ down there after the hike, and he’s assured you at least a million times that he likes it even better that way.

And it’s no wonder that you let him spit onto your pussy as he kisses up your thigh and hovers above you, then, before he bends your legs so far back that your knees are nearly touching your ears. That you let him fold you into a mating press and align his cock with your sticky cunt at long last, his fat cockhead prodding at your tight hole that just won’t stop fluttering at even the slightest intrusion.

“Imma pound you s’good. Gonna make you cream on my cock, gonna do all of that nasty shit that I wanted to do to ya for s’long,” he babbles, his stare so ardent that it pierces right through your heart even if he’s not focused at all. The second wave of his rut has already contaminated all his thoughts and consumed him entirely. All he can think about is slamming you to your breaking point.

“Kiba, wa—…. wait,” you mewl, eyes wide open as you stare up at him. With his back hunched and his biceps flexing, every muscle and cord strained to withhold his weight, he’s gotten so big that he can barely fit inside the tent anymore. 

How in the hell is he gonna fit inside you?

“Please, I need it. Need it so, so, so bad, fuck,” he drawls almost like he isn’t completely present, his expression all dazed and stupid from how he keeps on staring between your legs. He nudges you again as he says the words, his cockhead catching against your sticky entrance once more, making you squirm. “Your cunt smells so fuckin’ sweet; it’s driving me nuts... I gotta push inside you, bunny, okay? Imma push in.”

You tremble in response, hips wiggling, legs opening a fraction wider to give him even more space because of how persistent he’s getting. When you look up at him through hooded eyelids, all you can see is how his slits for pupils dilate at the sight of the silvery string of arousal that clings to his cock now, connecting him to your cunt.

Your pussy is so wet — it’s practically drooling.

Consequently, it makes him drool, too. Saliva nearly drips down Kiba’s canines all over again.

“Just the tip, okay?” you whisper, trying to calm your heavy-pounding heart.

“Jus’ the tip, yeah,” he murmurs back with that fang-induced mumble, still so pussy drunk that he’s nearly brain-dead. His irises have turned yellow; they glow in the dark as he looks at you and says, “Jus’ the tip and nothin’ else.”

You stare at him with big, watery eyes. “You promise?”

Kiba huffs a laugh despite the fact that he looks like he’s barely keeping himself together. “‘Course I do, sweetheart.” 

Hearing him promise, you nod, and thus give him the approval that he’s been practically dying to get. “All right… But go slowly, okay? ‘Cause I’m scared.” 

“Slow, gotcha. Gonna go so slow that it won’t hurt one bit.” 

With a heartbeat that’s damn well working overtime by now, Kiba softly grunts when he finally presses into you, causing you to instantly flinch and wiggle your hips for a second time to try and accommodate him better.

“Keep still, will ya?” he chides, his patience leaving him for a quick second. “You’re twitchin’ all over the place like you’re an actual rabbit.”

“I’m trying! And shut it.” He keeps on pushing at your fussing, turning your voice higher in pitch as you say, “Shit, shit, shit… I said slowly!”

He grits his teeth, eyebrows drawing together in concentration that he doesn’t have. “This is slow.”

“Well, I-I think that you’re going way too fast.”

“Stop naggin’ me already and relax.”

“Excuse me?!”

Your mouth opens, but before you can even begin unleashing the storm that is your newly-formed fury, he leans down to press his lips against your own like the little shit he is.

Moments pass, he keeps kissing you as a means to distract you from the fact that he’s slowly filling you with his cock. And eventually, with some sweet-talking and plenty of combined effort, your pussy gives in when he adds just a little bit of force to the push, letting him break past that tight ring of muscle that your nerves must be causing.

You’re so tight that it makes the hair on the nape of his neck stand to attention when he finally slips inside, but you’re also so sloppy and dripping wet at the same time that he isn’t worried about it too much.

After all, from the way you push your head back now, pointing your chin upwards and exposing more of your neck that he feels the need to wrap his hand around and stroke it with the help of his thumb, you seem to be enjoying yourself just fine.

Nevertheless, concern — that he feels for you at all times — crosses his tight features. He’s barely holding it together, and here he is; looking out for you as he asks, “You doin’ okay?”

“Mhmm, yeah,” you utter, tensing when his touch moves from your neck down to your tits. 

He quirks a brow as he squeezes the fat of your breast and runs his thumb across your nipple this time, making you shudder. “But?”

You give him a pointed look. How can he always tell that there’s something hiding behind the reassurance? “But, you’re just so… big. Concerningly so. I’m worried about how I’m gonna take it all.”

He muses as he mocks the sound of your voice and says, “What happened to ‘just the tip, okay’?”

You huff, pouting. “Don’t make me keep it that way, you prick.”

“Okay, okay, m’sorry,” he says hurriedly, pressing what must be the hundredth kiss onto your lips. “I’ll be good, just don’t make me pull out, please.”

“What about you? Are you doing okay?” you ask, caressing his cheek with your palm. The way he instantly leans further into your touch makes your heart not only dance, but also sing. “I know this must be especially hard for you.”

“I’m fine,” he mumbles lamely, convincing neither of you. And then he sighs at the way you roll your eyes at him in answer. “I just… I want—”

“More?” you suggest.

A prominent blush sears his cheeks. Since when did he blush so much? He’s also sweating like crazy all over again as he says, “Yeah.”

“All right.” Carefully, you nod your head yes once more as you remind him, “I’ll give you more. But slowly, okay?”

“Okay,” he whispers, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip. How he doesn’t puncture the rosy skin with the action, you don’t understand. “I’ll go nice n’ easy on ya. Cross my heart.”

Well, he’ll try at least.

And Kiba does try to go nice and easy, he really does. But it’s hard for him to keep his cool when the beast keeps on howling in his veins and the bond that chains him to you screams at him to brand every last inch of your skin and soul alike.

He’s nearly trembling all over by the time he sinks balls deep into you and his dark pubic hair kisses your clit.

But at long last, you’ve become one.

“Fuck.”

“That feels so—”

“Good. That feels so fuckin’ good, goddamn.”

“I-I’m so… full.”

“You’re welcome.”

“God, do you ever shut up?”

“What d’you think?” 

“I think—”

“Woah, look, I’m even makin’ your belly bulge a bit.”

“Ew, ew, ew! That’s so gross.”

“What? No, it ain’t. I actually think it’s kind of cool-lookin’.”

“Stop poking it!”

“Nu-uh.”

Your ankles cross at the middle of his back when he presses his hand to your tummy, colourful socks scraping tan skin. The way you clench around him when he digs his fingers into the bulge makes Kiba wish he had the ability to purr.

“Move,” you squeak out, breath hitching at how the tip of his cock has managed to snuggle right next to your goddamn cervix. “Need you to… move. It’s too much! Kiba, please.”

He tries not to show how happy he is to do as you tell him, but fails with the way his entire face literally lights up as he says, “Like this?”

“Yeah,” you answer quickly, savoring every last bit of friction he gives you now. The rhythm he’s chosen is surprisingly laggard, even if he looks like he’s just about to start bursting at the seams. “Y-yeah, like that.”

Kiba likes the way you sound when you’ve got something fucking into you at a steady pace, but it’s even better that that something is him. Now that he thinks about it, the tone is pretty similar to the one you used to have after every gym class back in high school.

God, did he like seeing those tight shorts on you every Wednesday. Good memories.

A proper moan — the first amongst many — suddenly leaves your mouth, coaxing him away from his trip down memory lane and urging him to make you keep talking, talking, talking as he asks, “You need me just as much as I need you, don’tcha?”

“Pfsh. I never said… that,” you drawl with a click of a tongue as your breathing picks up. Every time he draws his hips back and pushes them back into you feels like he’s reshaping your entire goddamn cunt. Not an unpleasant sensation necessarily, but it definitely takes some time getting used to. 

“‘Kay, but listen to all this noise you’re making now that I’ve stuffed your lil’ bunny cunt full,” he says, his eyes glowing with mischief and that sublime yellow colour. “Bet no other man could make you sound like that, huh?”

They’re lazy but deep, the thrusts. Filled with intent. With arrogance and urgency that hides just beneath the surface, waiting to pounce. They reach parts of you that you’ve never even thought could be touched. They make slick dribble down his balls, until it’s all dripping right onto the sleeping bags you’re fucking on top of.

It’s all so audible and loud. Messy. The occasional sound of skin slapping against skin. The wet squelching noises between you. The constant whimpering and his growling grunts, steadily growing in volume.

And you’re going slow.

“Yeah, well that’s ‘cause you’re no man, you dummy,” you bite back when you’re more familiar and comfortable with each other and the connection, trying to be witty even if it’s hard to keep your mind from breaking into shambles.

“Is that so?” He’s breathing hard, picking up his pace, going harder. “Then what am I?”

A dazed smile curls your lips. “You’re a dirty, dirty dog.”

Kiba could agree with that statement to some degree, perhaps. Even if he dislikes the particular term you’ve used.

After all, you have no idea how he’s gotten himself off with a pair of panties that he’d swiped from your drawer and wrapped around his fist back in senior year. Or how he’d turned embarrassingly hard after almost every hug and had to play it cool even if he was sweating bullets from trying to hide the raging boner in his pants. Or how he’s fantasized and fantasized and fantasized; only watching porn with actresses that shared similarities with you because nothing else seemed to work.

You don’t have a clue about any of that.

And he hopes it stays that way.

“Hah.” An almost mean snicker leaves his lips as he unexpectedly slams into you, making you squeal out a particularly nasty curse and causing your pussy to outright gush at the intrusion. “Careful, sweetheart. If you keep on saying things like that, I’ll be more than happy to treat ya like the dirty dog you say I am.”

“Will you, though?” you challenge playfully, stroking down his back with the heel of your foot.

He sneers as he answers, “I will if you keep on testin’ me.”

“But I thought you said that you’re bonded to me?” 

“Yeah,” he says. “So?”

“So, doesn’t that mean that you can’t hurt me?”

He blinks, surprised. “Who said anything ‘bout hurting you…? I’d just mount you.”

Your expression copies his own. “Mount… me?”

“Yeah,” he mutters, temperature suddenly flaring up at the thought. “You know… the same way animals fuck.”

Heat creeps up your neck at the crude way he explains it. “Oh.”

Kiba’s lips quirk upwards when he catches a whiff of the subtle change in your scent. You’re flustered at the idea, smelling even sweeter now that there are no clothes to buffer the prominent notes of arousal. “I take it that you wanna try it?”

Your eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets. A wave of sweat washes over you, toes curling. “What— No!”

“Oh, c’mon,” he pushes gently, helping you out. “Scent doesn’t lie, remember? You’ll like it, I promise.” 

“And if I don’t?” you ask.

He nudges your chin with the tip of his nose. “If you don’t, we’ll stop. Simple as that.”

“Okay, but can you stop?” You angle your head so that he can press a kiss to your cheek. “When you’re like this… under the influence of a rut. Can you stop?”

Silence hangs in the air as he pulls away to look at you, his expression suddenly somber despite the glaze of unbridled lust that still coats his unnatural eyes. 

“I’d never hurt you,” he finally says. “I’d rather die than hurt my mate, that’s why I was ready to leave before.”

Kiba’s voice is stone cold serious. The intensity he chooses to speak with so that he can get his point across causes butterflies to spring free inside your belly.

You can still feel them fluttering around by the time his clawed hands manhandle you into the position he wants. Laying on your stomach now, you let out a little noise of surprise when his weight presses you further down into the silky nylon of the sleeping bags the moment he tops you.

He’s heavy, taking the profound size difference into account, but you’re pleased to find out that it’s the kind of weight that comforts you instead of suffocating you. You feel warm. Safe.

“Can I…?” he trails off.

His exhale tickles the back of your neck, making the hairs there rise to attention as you shiver and say, “Well, that’s what I’m here for, aren’t I?”

“Oh, sorry, my bad,” he says. “I thought you were here for the s’mores.”

“Not funny— oh.”

Your back arches and your anger dissipates into nothing as soon as he begins to push inside you again, careful not to stuff you full too fast. After all, while it might be easier to fit him inside you this time thanks to your earlier endeavours, it still remains to be no small task.

He’s as careful and considerate as he’s able to be in the state that he’s in. He pushes gently, but pushes nonetheless. By the time he sinks into you to the hilt and pauses to give you a minute, you’re both panting like you’ve just ran a marathon.

“You doin’ okay, bunny?” he rasps, voice so low and growly that it really does make you think you’re getting fucked by an animal. Or a beast, if you’d have to specify it.

“Yep, mhmm…!” You squeak out, your voice so high-pitched that it must surely hurt or at least agitate his ultra-sensitive hearing. You’re happy that he can’t see the fucked out expression that sits on your face right now. “Doing a-okay.”

“Don’t try to run away, now,” he teases when you wiggle your hips, trying to readjust yourself. “Or else the hunting instinct is gonna kick in.”

“Not to worry,” you practically chirp, feeling your body slipping into a fever at the way his big, calloused palm presses into the small of your back. “I’m staying put.”

He chuckles at how submissive he’s made you sound, at how there’s a prominent sheen of sweat gathering on your spine. Gliding his finger down your dewy skin, Kiba catches himself wishing to lick you clean of salt, but at the same time he just knows that you’d cause a fuss about it if he’d even mention the mere idea of it.

So for the following minutes, he doesn’t speak.

And neither do you.

You can’t speak from how deep he’s pushed himself inside you, anyway. No, all you can do is moan and whimper uselessly as he then proceeds to fuck you, to make love to you, to break you apart just to reassemble you until you’re whole again; all in the position he likes best.

He makes you sweat. Makes you cry out to him as you allow yourself to get lost in deeply-rooted carnal pleasure and you need his help to bring you back to morality. At some point, his arm even ends up reaching underneath you and wrapping around your stomach just so he can hold your hips up when you try to crawl away despite telling him that you’re going to stay put earlier.

Judging by the way you’re reacting to him, Kiba guesses that he’ll have to carry you down the hill when morning comes. 

Meanwhile, you’re unsure if it’s the bond that’s making you feel this wild or the simple fact that he’s not entirely human. However, when you at long last feel yourself clenching around him, and when that tight, almost unbearable heat that’s inside your tummy finally spills free and spreads throughout your whole body, you realize that you don’t really care what the reason behind your sudden recklessness might be.

“Fuck. M’not gonna last long, sweetheart… No fuckin’ way that I’m gonna last when your cunt’s milkin’ me dry like that,” Kiba grunts out as he feels you gush and start creaming on his cock. There’s a ring of milky slick gathering at his base already — the sight and sound of it turns his thrusts jerky and irregular. 

“Don’t get scared of the knot now, okay?” His upper lip trembles as he swallows hard. “It’ll be there just for a minute, I swear.”

“Knot…? What’s a—Oh, my gosh, Kiba; I am going to fucking murder you!”

The sudden swelling you feel inside your pussy practically bullies its way up to your cervix as he hunches his back and gives you one last, final push. 

Your toes curl as the ‘knot’ — or whatever he calls it — plugs you, and also succeeds in making you entirely rigid in return. Every last inch of your body feels tingly from the foreign sensation as he lets out one final groan, that sounds more like a pained whimper than anything else, and simply fills you up to the brim with warm, thick, endless ropes of cum that paint your abused walls entirely white and simply refuse to spill out of you.

You stare off into the darkness, listening to his ragged breathing whilst trying to tame your own. Eventually, his cock softens enough for your cunt to not feel like it’s going to fucking explode from the fullness. And as soon as that happens, he drops down upon poor, unsuspecting you; feeling completely, utterly exhausted.

Your werewolf best friend is squishing you flat like a pancake and is spoiling you with messy kisses after fucking you like an animal in the middle of the woods. And you’re just… fine with that?

The realization makes you smile.

Maybe living your life on the edge for once and being a little bit spontaneous isn’t as bad as you think.

———

“I really hope that your pills can withstand all that werewolf cum I’ve just pumped into ya, ya know. ‘Cause otherwise we’re gonna be having an entire litter of pups.”

“For the love of god, can you please use your lowly developed frontal lobe for like a second of your miserable life, and just keep watch like I told you to?”

“This is pointless. There’s literally no one here besides us and a couple of deer.”

“Shush! I’m trying to pee and I can’t do that when you keep on running your big-ass mouth!”

“Words, words, words; I am saying so many words just so that you won’t be able to piss.”

“Shut up already!”

With his back turned towards you and his hands stuffed into the pockets of his sweatpants, Kiba fights back a laugh as he listens to you relieve yourself in the nearby tall grass. 

After fucking you close to stupidity nearly three times in a row now — and mounting you twice during those three times — the young werewolf feels somewhat content with himself at long last. 

He’s fucked most of the rut out of his system by now. Besides that, you’ve also talked a lot, apologized to each other, and cleared up some misunderstandings. He’s even managed to place a hickey on that spot on your neck where your scent is the strongest and where, he hopes, you’ll let him place an actual bite mark someday.

But for now, you’re taking it slow. On Saturday, he’s taking you out to dinner at that little restaurant by the lake that you’ve always liked visiting with your parents. 

And who knows, maybe after you share dessert together, you might even go for a swim so that he has an excuse to take his shirt off in front of you and you get to make fun of him for it, or whatever.

So lost in his thoughts and all the planning he has yet to start pondering through, Kiba barely hears the rustle of your footsteps when you approach him from behind. 

He tenses, whipping his head in your direction only a millisecond before you manage to put away your travel sized packet of baby wipes that he teases you for constantly carrying around with you, and you place your hand on his shoulder.

Your eyebrows rise up towards your hairline in response to his visible startlement. “Did I just manage to sneak up on the so-called ‘apex predator’?”

“You wish,” he says as he absent-mindedly brushes you off. “I could smell ya from a mile away.”

You frown. “That’s so mean!”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he drawls, sighing. “It’s just that you smell like me, now… It stands out.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better.” You stick your tongue at him, looking up at him with your hands on your hips. In the moonlight, he’s even handsomer than usual in that weirdly rugged way that only he can pull off. “Can we go back inside the tent now? I’m exhausted after the entire...”

“Fuckfest?” he offers with a tricksy grin.

“Shut it!” you chide before you shove your phone’s flashlight right into his face as punishment.

Back inside the tent, you don’t have any sort of trouble with undressing yourself in front of your best friend this time. Your hoodie and t-shirt are tossed off, leggings following soon after — until you’re curling up against his strong chest in nothing else but your socks and underwear.

His body temperature isn’t nearly as hot as it was before, but the skin on skin contact provides you with enough warmth to be comfortable as you turn around to face him.

Kiba’s hair is mussed and his eyelids are already hooded with upcoming sleep when he lifts them just barely enough to look at you. The rut really has taken a toll on him; on the both of you alike.

“What is it now?” he mumbles lazily.

“Do you think,” you start, swallowing hard. “Do you think that we’re going to be okay?”

He smiles, the quirk of his lips faint. “I know we will.”

“And our friendship?” you ask, pressing your palm against his chest. “Do you think all of this is going to ruin it?”

“Nah, I think it’s goin’ to make it even better,” he says, fixing a loose strand of hair behind your ear before he settles back. He yawns, rubbing his eye as he mutters, “Besides, we’re gonna take it slow. Just like you’ve said.”

“And you’re fine with that?” you ask.

“‘Course I am,” he replies sleepily.

“Why?”

“Because you’re important to me,” he says. “So if you want to go slow, we’ll go as slow as goddamn snails if we have to.”

You let out a little laugh that sounds like wind chimes to him. “You’re so lame.”

Kiba grins, his heart fluttering at the sight of your smile. “Not as lame as you.”

And maybe, just maybe, going steady and experiencing peace for a change isn’t so bad either.

tags: @his-sweet-minx @rookie98writes @qichun @redskyvenus @simply-chillin-here @shanjisan

[arazune]

ueueuehehehehehe barbatos tailfucking the reader. like holding them with his hands and using his tail to fuck both holes *smiles* and like overstimming them too (fem reader if so 🙏🏼🙏🏼) -rei boobie anon

Barbatos tailfucking fem! s/o + overstimulation

omg you said that he needs to hold the reader and everything but I get a little bit carried away while writing this.. Hope it's okay.. <3

femreader, teasing, begging, humiliation, overstimulation, semi public sex, rough sex, slut shaming, oral (giving), double penetration, Master/pet relationship;; 3026 words;;

NFSW UNDER THE CUT

;MINORS DNI;

The way Barbatos touches you clearly reflects his whole personality - playful, almost weightless, and always so confusing, as you never can say if it was an accidental brush of his hand on your body that feels too intimate or he just teases you, maybe even torturing you with these games.. Every time you visit Demon Lord's Castle he approaches you too rarely to actually make you aroused but too often for you to not pay attention to light strokes of his arms that just knows where and how to tickle to make you bite lips. Yet today..

Today was some kind of special occasion, indeed. One of the casual tea parties that Diavolo loves to make so it's easy to run away from his responsibilities and paperwork but today his loyal servant finally accepted the offer to join you all and also relax. And oh what a miracle, the only empty chair was near you?!

But the fact that Barbatos also would just drink tea with you all didn't bother or even surprise you that much, before.. Before you choke on the silver spoon in your mouth, suddenly feel the cold leather of his gloves on your thighs.

"S/o..? Are you alright?!"

"Strange, I make sure that there's no Solomon's cooking this time, why did you choke on this strawberry pie?"

"Mm? And how can my cooking be related to this..?"

Ah, everyone around you is so worried, almost jumping from their places to pat your back and help you. When the hero of the occasion keeps drinking his tea, absolutely enjoying your blushing face and this awkward laugh as you try to calm everyone.. While his hand already lifts your skirt, caressing naked skin here.

"S/o, is everything okay? Maybe I should lend a helping hand for you too?" - he finally turns to look you right in the eyes just to get even more amused by your adorable reaction, as you're really trying to keep your voice calm. The moment your eyes meet, Barbatos just moves his fingers forward, tickling inner thighs oh so close to your panties.

"Yes, yes, I'm alright.." - and despite you wanting to hint with a glance to stop you have no idea how… Everyone around is still looking.

"Good." - He takes off your panties.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Well, maybe you shouldn't have given a damn about everyone else as now things get even harder to hide.

For a moment you thought he would just tease you with his hand for the whole tea party, but then his tail appeared. And it was much worse than his fingers can be. One tip of it was slowly sliding up and down, titillating your folds, when the other one pressed to your clit, drawing small circles in a sensitive place.

All you can do is just eat more than usual to muffle your gasp in another bite of cake. How good Mammon was also here, in his casual goofy mood that Lucifer hated so much, making everyone around laugh. And you laugh too, trying to hide your whines and sobs under the mask of a strong fit of laughter, eyes already red and watering when you act like you finally controlled the spasms.. Oh if they all know what exactly spasms you try to control..!

Will you be able to hold yourself for the whole evening? Your hand slides down to squeeze Barbatos' knee, not in the attempt to tease him too but to warn him, warn that it's starting to be unbearable. Even when you tried to control your breath he was hearing your small gasps and whimpers, and quickly found just the right pace to rub your clit while his other tip played with the clenching entrance of your pussy, not thrusting inside, just tickling, making you be the one who wants to feel more. And you were afraid you would not have enough strength to not just start moaning out loud.

"Mm.. This time it was much more funny than usual.." - Simeon smiles, and you just now notice that everyone has already finished their tea, and the party is getting to finish.

"Oh yes! The fact that Barbatos was with us this time as a friend and not as my servant was making everything better..!" - a loud laugh of the Lord thundered across the table, but you almost didn't hear him, more concentrated on the heat between your thighs that made you cross your legs. Are you on edge now..?

"I don't think my presence change anything, but your words flattered me, my Lord.." - with a slight nod Barbatos keeps looking at everyone but not you.

"Hehe.. But do you remember that you still need to prepare rooms for our dear guest to stay overnight?"

"Of course. I will return to my work immediately." - maybe no one heard this, but you clearly notice some sight mockery in his tone. And of course this mockery was addressed to you, as at the same time all touches stopped and his tail quickly pulled away.

You whine, this time not even carrying how loud you can be, as your pussy was still throbbing, asking, begging for just a few touches before blissful release..

"I'm no less disappointed than you are, s/o.." - Lucifer furrowed his brow, looking at his boss. - "You probably should tell us that you're planning an overnight stay a little bit earlier..?"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Never in your life have you experienced a more hard time than this evening. All this activity with the demon brother in Castle just annoys you, as you still keep returning to these moments with Barbatos, almost feeling the ghost of his touches on your warm skin all over again.

But this sinful servant just knows how to make you struggle even more, not even showing near you for the whole time, too busy with his responsibilities. And it was both good and bad, cause despite you yearning to see him again you also were afraid that you would just melt in the same second you see him again.

And only when everyone calls it night and goes into a different room, whining about how lucky Belphegor and Simeon are to spend the night in the same place with you, only then he approaches you again, catching you all alone in the darkness of the corridor.

"It seems that I left my poor darling right at the most interesting moment.."

"You did it on purpose..!" - you whisper, fighting the urge to just cling to him right here, but the shine in his bright green eyes tells you to not even try.

"Am I? Then please, meet me in my room tonight.." - leaning closer but only with his shoulders, still not touching your body, Barbatos whispers in your ear, hitting the core of your mind with goosebumps. - "I'm ready to fix my bad attitude.."

"But how I can-" - you mumble under your breath but he's already gone, almost faded away, leaving you all confused again.

Just HOW you still tolerate such unfair teases? Probably because you start to be addicted to these intoxicating games that always leave you with a light head and warm wetness in panties. Not even Lucifer with his playful flirting can make you feel the same thing that this side servant that is always in the background, hiding in the shadows, can. And you love that.

Well, maybe this whole sleepover was also just part of his plan, and the fact that you get in a room with two pretty peaceful guys was maybe also just his little touch.. Cause Belphie just fall asleep immediately, before you even enter the room, and Simeon, trying to act as quiet as possible to not awake him, also quickly get drowsy.

Just an hour, and you were absolutely sure these two wouldn't notice you go away. Well, maybe not 'just an hour', as every minute was like a torture for you, especially when you realize you would probably receive something more very soon.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Oh my. So I really picked your interest today, am I?"

You just whine as a response, melting in his arms the very second you crossed the threshold of Barbatos' room. Clinging to him with your whole body, you grasp his shoulders, waiting to feel his touch again, but his hands don't even move from your waist, and the whole hug feels… kinda stiff.

Oh, do you really think everything would be so easy? When you look up at him all you can see is a wild smirk, as your lover was absolutely amused with such pathetic needy gaze. One arm pat your head as he pulls away from you.

"Barbatos, why-"

"On your knees."

Not even any second thought as you already dropped on the floor, sitting in front of him. From such an angle his devilish face looks even more hypnotizin and you whine, both from shame and arousal.

But he just looks at you for a few seconds, before walking away and sitting in his bed, calling you with a beckoning sign. Oh, and of course he wouldn't even try to hide how much he enjoys your trembling figure as you quickly get closer on all fours. Like his own little pet..

For a moment you just look at each other in absolute silence, before he leans a little, resting his elbow on his knee:

"Do I really need to say that? I thought you were pretty smart to understand that good girls get rewards only after they ask nicely.."

"But.. Barbatos.."

"Mm, and I thought you got here for something more than just to show me how pathetic you look in such a pose.."

Digging your nails in the carpet, you sobs, as your face starts heating up. Of course you know when he plays and when not, and now you're absolutely sure you will receive nothing if you wouldn't beg.

"Barbatos, please.. Please, just touch me again.." - your small whine makes him chuckle and he nodded approvingly, waiting for more. - "I don't even ask for fucking, just touching.. Please.."

"Oh, how pitiful.." - your lover sighs, and despite his smile still on his face, the tone of his mocking voice was disinterested.

"No, really.. Barb- Master.." - you lean closer, clinging to his legs. - "Master, please.. I'll do anything.."

"That's better.."

Finally, FINALLY he touched you, spreading your legs roughly with the toes of his shoes as his tail quickly slid under your skirt, pressing onto the sticky fabric of your panties, that was absolutely soaked in your juices.

"Lift it up." - his gaze drops on your clothes and you quickly obey, too excited to finally get the right attention. Pulling your shirt up, you take it in your mouth, revealing your bra, while hands lifting the hem of your skirt.

"Oh, you decided to show me your whole body? Then go on, take everything off.." - still with a mocking tone, Barbatos surveyed your naked skin with the same calm gaze. ..did he even aroused or not? Or is it just a very twisted game for him, to humiliate you more?

But you don't care, as the main thing for you is that his tails already move your panties aside and start stroking your hot, trembling pussy again. Still holding your skirt with one hand, you tried to unhook your bra, as he ordered, but it was too hard, too hard when all your already small thoughts completely disappeared, leaving you with an empty head.

"What's wrong? Few touches are enough for you to get so useless?" - Barbatos sighs, leaning down and taking off your shirt along with the bra in one movement. - "Never thought what a dirty slut you are, letting a man treat you like this?"

The way his voice quickly changes from light mockery to straightforward insults just makes your stomach tickle. And this absolutely cold gaze on your blushing face and sweaty body just makes everything worse.. It's amazing how he can keep such a collected face when his tails are literally rubbing against you like that, one in front, teasing your folds, when another tip slowly creeps to your ass, tickling a tight hole. Another high pitched whine burst out of your lips but he quickly shut you up, grasping your chin.

"If you want to keep your mouth open, then at least use it properly.." - with such commentary he forces you lean closer, pressing your face to his crotch. Warmth of his hard dick that was felt even through fabric sends shivers down your spine and you let go of your skirt, instead trying to unzip his pants.

Not even trying to help you this time, Barbatos just keeps watching your weak attempts to do it, feeling just how much your hands tremble when brushing against his bulge. All he does is just keep telling how you demean yourself with such useless behavior. Oh, he's too harsh? But his tails also have nerves and he clearly can tell how much your both holes are clenching from his merciless comments, begging to be finally stretched out. But it's not the right time yet.

Only when his cock finally slaps your face, revealing from his pants, he grabs your hair again, controlling the pace with you licking his whole length. And only when Barbatos starts forcing his dick inside your mouth, his tails thrust inside you in one moment, making you moan right on his skin, tickling glans with vibration of your throat.

"Is it actually so good, to be fucked in all your holes? Well, why I'm asking.. Sluts like you love such things, don't you?" - even after his breath gets heavier from your hot tongue around his cock, your lover keeps mocking you.

Mock your sloppy movements, mock you for being so wet that he doesn't even need to prepare you, already pushing his tail deep inside you, mock you for choking around his cock and think about your own pleasure, not his, just mock and mock you every second. But your face with furrowed, twitching brows and muffled moans just tells him that you're absolutely enjoying it.

His darkened eyes now were filled with more lust, as he enjoyed every thrust of your mouth in just the right pace that he controlled all by himself, still pulling your hairs with his tight grip. For a moment Barbatos presses your head to his hips again, making you choke on the thick base of his cock and just stop, admiring your hazy eyes, full of tears.

"Such a good, whorish pet.. You want to cum, don't you?"

All you can do is whine and nod just a little, begging with your gaze instead of words. Oh, and of course with your hips that keep bouncing up and down on two tips that now speed up, moving in one aggressive rhythm. This mind shattering feeling of double filling was so new but already so pleasant to you, both your tight holes tremble from the rough resistance of his tails. God, of course you want to cum now.

"That's it.. Only dirty whores will cum when all their tree holes are stretched like this, so go on and show me how slutty you are for your master.."

The same rough wild speed that titillates you down here now was wrecking your mouth too, and you just closed your eyes, surrendering utterly to the pleasure. But a rough pull on your hair makes you gasp and open it again, just to see the smirking face of your lover.

"Did I give you permission? Look your Master in the eyes like a good and obedient pet.." - a low chuckle sends shivers down your spine and he suddenly starts to slow down. - "Or you enjoy when I throw you away in the most delightful moment?"

You shake your head a little and keep sucking his dick, begging with every move to not stop, to not stop right now, when your legs start trembling so much you barely can sit like that and not fall down, your thighs tried to squeeze together but his boots still were forcing you open, spreading your legs..

Just a few more rough, merciless thrust and you moan around his dick, sending more vibrations all over his sensitive skin while orgasm finally hits you. Your whole body freezes and if not his hand on your head you would probably stop sucking, as all other muscles in your body tensed up, concentrating in your burning pussy that now clenched tight around his tail. Your vision is blurry and you can only see Barbatos' smirk and deep dominating gaze, and it just makes these waves of pleasure inside you hit your core even harder.

Still pushing your head up and down, he admires such a pathetic view of your cumming face, absolutely enjoying your hot walls and their pressure. Just how much tighter you would be when he would pound into you with much thicker length..? This thoughts makes him bite lip as he also get too close to the edge, showing his dick deep in your throat.

"Keep your mouth like that.. Let's use your throat for its only one declared purposes.."

With these words Barbatos come too, burning your inner skin with thick hot sperm. Oh, and of course as a good pet you will keep sucking, milking him to the very end as sticky liquid running down into your stomach. Only now you were able to hear more of his groans and gasps, but not that much.. After all, if you want to hear more of his delightful deep sounds then you should work even harder now.

And of course he gives you this opportunity, pulling away your head to undress himself completely.

"On a bed, now. If you continue being so obedient, then I'll let you stay here for the whole night, pet.."

[arazune]

[Mildly suggestive]

Summary: Lilia loves you dearly yet intensely.

Lilia watched as you dozed right next to him.

His coat laid over you.

Your hand was entwined with his as you slept.

He used his other to move some tendrils of hair away from your face.

You mumbled as you leaned into his slightest touch.

An inner dark stirring came to him, something he hasn’t felt in centuries.

This stirring he felt ever since the overblot incident with Malleus.

He can recall how his dream self was fascinated by you, by your light.

He recalled how his current self’s fondness for you mixed with the confusion and interest of his past self.

His need to possess and own reared it’s head in the dream realm, even now he can feel the shadows of it call to him.

To own

To possess

To claim

You were someone his past self couldn’t have due to the war, but yet you were a temptation he sought.

Lilia chuckled as he leaned towards you, kissing your forehead then leaning his head against yours.

“You don’t understand the power you hold over me.”

He recalled how his past constantly, furtively watched you. How it wasn’t Sebek nor Grim that he found threatening, but Silver. His own son.

How you leaned on him and Silver did the same. How you checked up on him and made sure he was okay.

How he, in return, cared for you just as much.

Lilia remembered the burning pit in his stomach.

“Jealous of my own son, oh precious, what you do to me.”

He recalled how he kicked Silver to distract the enemies and the slight satisfaction he felt before you screamed for his son.

The way you checked and made sure Silver was okay and the look of disappointment you sent him after, had his past self flinching.

He recalled how he wanted to take you and claim you. Over and over, until you knew nothing else but him. Wanted nothing else but him. Begged for him and he would have gladly provided.

Mine.

The word is whispered in the recess of his mind. Yes.

His.

As you stirred awake, blinking up at him. Bringing a hand up to cup his cheek, you called his name with your voice filled with sleep and love.

That was all it took.

Lilia felt himself give in to his inner and darker desires. Why deny himself? When you were right here? So willing and loving?

The hands clutching at him. Leaving marks of your own. The gasps and moans that you sung, expressed how willing you were.

It wasn’t enough, but it would be. He didn’t plan to stop until the lines that separated you two blurred into one.

Until he was quenched of his thirst for you, until you begged and pleaded for him, knowing nothing but him and pleasure.

He hoped you were ready, because this thirst wouldn’t be satisfied for a long while, and he very much loved the song you sang as he expertly loved you.

The past and current Lilia aligned, enraptured and enthralled in their desires to fully claim and possess you, only the moon a witness to these lovers.

[arazune]

There Are Nothing But Flowers

Summary: You want to play house and he’s just hungry.

Word Count: 11.3K

Tags: Alhaitham x Fem!Reader, Smut, Modern AU, Vampire AU, TW: Death, Terminally ill! Reader,  TW: Medical gaslighting, description of medial treatments & corruption, TW: Blood & Blood drinking, vague mentions of violence, Contract Marriage AU, slight! enemies to lovers, Slow burn, NSFW, Fluff, Heavy Angst, Unrequited love?, Vampire! Alhaitham, Dom! Alhaitham, Human! Reader, biting, slight orgasm denial, overstimulation, creampie, slight corruption kink, temperature play? you fall hard, slow fic, tragedy. 

Authors note: This is the other side to this work, your side of the story, please read the tags carefully. I wanted to explore the other side of the garden wall and themes of mortality, it’s heavy, please read when you feel well enough to see what lies beyond. Enjoy. 

Side note: the aftermath

Seguir leyendo

[arazune]

+:｡.｡𝓐 𝓓𝓮𝓪𝓵 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓵｡.｡:+

𝙿𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐/𝚜: [𝚅𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎] 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚡 [𝚅𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛] 𝙶𝙽.𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 𝟺.𝟺𝚔

𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚘𝚙𝚜𝚒𝚜: 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕-𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚅𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙷𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚝. 𝙱𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊 𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚗. 𝙱𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎. 𝙴𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘?

𝙲𝚆: 𝚂𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎

𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚜𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚔𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜. 𝙽𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚝? 𝙰 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍, 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚍. 𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚞𝚗𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚜𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚊 𝚏𝚘𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕.

𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎, 𝚠𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚕.

𝚃𝚊𝚔��𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚞𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕. 𝙸𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚟𝚊𝚜𝚝, 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚜. 𝙰𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚙𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍. 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐… 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚣𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚔𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍. 𝙿𝚕𝚞𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎, 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕? 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚑𝚊𝚙 𝚊 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚊𝚞𝚛𝚊? 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎.

𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎, 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢, 𝚊 𝚙𝚎𝚎𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚜. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚠𝚎. 𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎. 𝙸𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢, 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗.

𝙿𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛, 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍𝚕𝚢, 𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎. 𝙰 𝚠𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚢 𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚠 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚛 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚙. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚏𝚏, 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚎𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚝. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚣𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢, 𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜. 𝙸𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕.

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚜? 𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚜? 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜.

"𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚛𝚞𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢, [𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎]?" 𝙰 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖, 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚞𝚖𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍. 𝙴𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢… 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐… 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝, 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎? "𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚖𝚎, 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚎? 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎." 𝚀𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝. 𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍. 𝙳𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖… 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛, 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍? "𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝙸'𝚖 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚎… 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎~ 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝙸'𝚖 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝." 𝙰 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚛𝚞𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚜.

"𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛!" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗, 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎. "𝙻𝚎𝚝'𝚜 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑!" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑.

𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙰 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎.

"𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎, 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘 𝚜𝚘. 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍…" 𝙰 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞. "𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞… 𝙰𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠, [𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎]. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠? 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 ����𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜." 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚛. "𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙?" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎. "𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚎." 𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚍 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍.

𝚆𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘, 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕. 𝙱𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 '𝚊𝚍𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚛'. 𝚂𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚊𝚍𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚜, 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍.

"𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜, 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘?" 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚗, 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍'𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

"𝙼𝚢 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝? 𝙸𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚋𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜, 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛..?~ 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝… 𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝙸, 𝚊 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜-𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙? 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐…" 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚏𝚘𝚘𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚏𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖. "𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚞𝚊𝚕… 𝙷𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍, 𝙸'𝚍 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚝 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝~ 𝙼𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎.

𝙳𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚖 𝚎𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚊𝚗-𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚛𝚞𝚋𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚛, 𝚊 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚊𝚔 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚍����𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎, 𝚞𝚗𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎. 𝙷𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍.

𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚔𝚎-𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚝-𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚗.

"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚎? 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚛 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕. 𝚂𝚘, 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎… 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎? 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜." 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚣𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎. "𝚂𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚜𝚘, 𝙸 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗...~" 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚒𝚕, 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍 𝚐𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚝. "𝚈𝚘𝚞…" 𝙷𝚎 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜. "𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝..? 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠… 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚝~" 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚍.

"𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜?" 𝙸𝚏 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚠𝚜, 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚎.

"𝙰𝚜 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎. 𝙽𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝙸 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎~" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑, 𝚏𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙷𝚎 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍. "𝚆𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝?~ 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚗…" 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚛, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗.

𝙷𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢. 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎… 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞.

𝙷𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜. 𝚄𝚗𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎, 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞.

"𝙸'𝚖 𝚗𝚘 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛… 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚊 𝚋𝚞𝚐~" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗. 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚝. "𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗… 𝙲𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚝.. 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛?" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚙 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚏𝚝 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗, 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎.

"𝙰𝚜 𝚒𝚏! 𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐?" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚞𝚜𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚢.

𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚎. 𝚂𝚞𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚕𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗����𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗 𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙷𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚖 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚐𝚘. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖.

"𝙸 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎… 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚒𝚝?" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖. 𝙰𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚋 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜, 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝'𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚍. 𝙽𝚎𝚡𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚜. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚗𝚎.

𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚜. 𝙰 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚛, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍.

𝙰 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜.

"𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚞𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎.

"𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜…?" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚑𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍.

𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍, 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚊 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕, 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚒𝚡𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 '𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛' 𝚠𝚊𝚜.

"𝙰𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍… 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎. 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚙 𝚊 𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚎… 𝙰𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜, 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎, 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝~" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚜… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍, 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗.

𝙷𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑? 𝙾𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎…

"𝙸𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜? 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍?" 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜, 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐?

𝙷𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜…

"𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝙸 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝. 𝙸'𝚖 𝚗𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎…" 𝙸𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎. "𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚜." 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚕𝚞𝚖𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠, 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛.

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝. 𝚅𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝. 𝙰𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚎. 𝙼𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚜𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚎𝚡𝚑𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝙸𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍'𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚍. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚏. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛.

"…𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘?" 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚢.

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎? 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚘. 𝙾𝚛 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝, 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚑𝚊𝚙 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎. 𝙼𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙷𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚍, 𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝.

"𝙸𝚏 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗…" 𝙷𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚢, 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚗𝚕𝚢. "𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗, 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚖𝚎~ 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞." 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜, 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎.

"𝚈𝚘𝚞… 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚐𝚘?" 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍. "𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘.. 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎?"

"𝙳𝚒𝚍 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛? 𝙾𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍… 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔~ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚞𝚙. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎. 𝚂𝚘, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛 [𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎]?" 𝙰𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜.

𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎--𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑--𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚠, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜.

"𝙸… 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎, 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚠. 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗. 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍." 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚔 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝.

"𝙷𝚖𝚖𝚖… 𝙸𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝… 𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞." 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚝, 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝. 𝚆𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗. "𝙵𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛~" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚎𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚢, 𝚑𝚎… 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚞𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝚆𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜? 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎? 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍? 𝙾𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜. 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚗.

"𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝙰 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚢 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝~" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎.

"…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙰 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚐? 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢. 𝙸𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢. 𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝. 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚎 '𝚖𝚎𝚝' 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙷𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎, 𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚠. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍.

𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚋𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚞𝚙 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚢. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚓𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚋𝚢 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚛𝚎. 𝙷𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎…

𝚆𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝. 𝙷𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎… 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚊���𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚗𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. 𝙷𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚛. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢. 𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚍.

"𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝.

"𝙷𝚖… 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛~" 𝙷𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛, 𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗.

𝙷𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜, 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔. 𝙷𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚠𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚍𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍--𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖, 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝙸𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚋 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚠𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝… 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚍. 𝙸𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔…

"𝙰𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠, [𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎]. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠? 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜."

...

"𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙?𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚎."

𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚍𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝. 𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝. 𝚈𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚙𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝚃𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝… 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎. 𝙰 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢--𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎. 𝚂𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚜𝚕𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛.

𝙰 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘. 𝙰𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕. 𝚀𝚞𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚊, 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚊 [𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎, 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎]. 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚐𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎'𝚕𝚕 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜. 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚒𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚛, 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎.

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞��𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚊 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚍𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔, 𝚒𝚗𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝.

"𝙾𝚑, 𝙸 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚢, 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛!~" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍--𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍--𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔. "𝚂𝚘, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚑𝚖?" 𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑.

"𝙸…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚝. 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛.. 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜. "𝙸 𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎!" 𝙸𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝… 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝.

"𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘?" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚝-𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚗. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍… 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚋 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐. "𝙸 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞! 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍'𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛~ 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎!" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚓𝚘𝚔𝚎? 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚑 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎. "𝙰𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙𝚎𝚍… 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝙸 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗… 𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚜𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜! 𝙻𝚎𝚝'𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚝, 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚎?" 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚗��� 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚞𝚗𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎.

𝙸𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏--𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚝, 𝚒𝚝 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚊𝚜. 𝙰 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕… 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚞𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛.

"𝙷𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐~" 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚙, 𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚔. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚝𝚑 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚞𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖. "𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚌𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎…" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔, 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍.

𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚓𝚊𝚠𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚔𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚒𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕…

+:｡.｡𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓔𝓷𝓭｡.｡:+

[arazune]

+:｡.｡𝓐 𝓓𝓮𝓪𝓵 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓵｡.｡:+

𝙿𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐/𝚜: [𝚅𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎] 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚡 [𝚅𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛] 𝙶𝙽.𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 𝟺.𝟺𝚔

𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚘𝚙𝚜𝚒𝚜: 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕-𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚅𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙷𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚝. 𝙱𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊 𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚗. 𝙱𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎. 𝙴𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘?

𝙲𝚆: 𝚂𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎

𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚜𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚔𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜. 𝙽𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚝? 𝙰 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍, 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚍. 𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚞𝚗𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚜𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚊 𝚏𝚘𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕.

𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎, 𝚠𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚕.

𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚞𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕. 𝙸𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚟𝚊𝚜𝚝, 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚜. 𝙰𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚙𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍. 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐… 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚣𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚔𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍. 𝙿𝚕𝚞𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎, 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕? 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚑𝚊𝚙 𝚊 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚊𝚞𝚛𝚊? 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎.

𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎, 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢, 𝚊 𝚙𝚎𝚎𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚜. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚠𝚎. 𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎. 𝙸𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢, 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗.

𝙿𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛, 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍𝚕𝚢, 𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎. 𝙰 𝚠𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚢 𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚠 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚛 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚙. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚏𝚏, 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚎𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚝. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚣𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢, 𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜. 𝙸𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕.

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚜? 𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚜? 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜.

"𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚛𝚞𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢, [𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎]?" 𝙰 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖, 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚞𝚖𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍. 𝙴𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢… 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐… 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝, 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎? "𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚖𝚎, 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚎? 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎." 𝚀𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝. 𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍. 𝙳𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚑��𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖… 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛, 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍? "𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝙸'𝚖 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚎… 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎~ 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝙸'𝚖 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝." 𝙰 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚛𝚞𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚜.

"𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛!" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗, 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎. "𝙻𝚎𝚝'𝚜 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑!" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑.

𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙰 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎.

"𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎, 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘 𝚜𝚘. 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍…" 𝙰 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞. "𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞… 𝙰𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠, [𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎]. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠? 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜." 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚛. "𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙?" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎. "𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚎." 𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚍 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍.

𝚆𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘, 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕. 𝙱𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 '𝚊𝚍𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚛'. 𝚂𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚊𝚍𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚜, 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍.

"𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜, 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘?" 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚗, 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍'𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

"𝙼𝚢 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝? 𝙸𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚋𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜, 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛..?~ 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝… 𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝙸, 𝚊 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜-𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙? 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐…" 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚏𝚘𝚘𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎��𝚜, 𝚏𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖. "𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚞𝚊𝚕… 𝙷𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍, 𝙸'𝚍 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚝 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝~ 𝙼𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎.

𝙳𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚖 𝚎𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚊𝚗-𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚛𝚞𝚋𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚛, 𝚊 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚊𝚔 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎, 𝚞𝚗𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎. 𝙷𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍.

𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚔𝚎-𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚝-𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚗.

"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚎? 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚛 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕. 𝚂𝚘, 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎… 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎? 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜." 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚣𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎. "𝚂𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚜𝚘, 𝙸 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗...~" 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚋𝚘𝚒𝚕, 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍 𝚐𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚝. "𝚈𝚘𝚞…" 𝙷𝚎 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜. "𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝..? 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠… 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚝~" 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚍.

"𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜?" 𝙸𝚏 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚠𝚜, 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚎.

"𝙰𝚜 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎. 𝙽𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝙸 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎~" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑, 𝚏𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙷𝚎 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍. "𝚆𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝?~ 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚗…" 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚛, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗.

𝙷𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚢. 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎… 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘. 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞.

𝙷𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜. 𝚄𝚗𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎, 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞.

"𝙸'𝚖 𝚗𝚘 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛… 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚊 𝚋𝚞𝚐~" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗. 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚝. "𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗… 𝙲𝚊𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚝.. 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛?" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚙 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚏𝚝 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗, 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚎.

"𝙰𝚜 𝚒𝚏! 𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐?" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚞𝚜𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚢.

𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚎. 𝚂𝚞𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚕𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗 𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙷𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚖 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚐𝚘. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖.

"𝙸 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎… 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚒𝚝?" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖. 𝙰𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚋 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜, 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝'𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚍. 𝙽𝚎𝚡𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚜. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚗𝚎.

𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚜. 𝙰 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚛, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍.

𝙰 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜.

"𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚞𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎.

"𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜…?" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚑𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍.

𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍, 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚊 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕, 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚒𝚡𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 '𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛' 𝚠𝚊𝚜.

"𝙰𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍… 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎. 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚙 𝚊 𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚎… 𝙰𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜, 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎, 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝~" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚜… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍, 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗.

𝙷𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑? 𝙾𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎…

"𝙸𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜? 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍?" 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜, 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐?

𝙷𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜…

"𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝙸 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝. 𝙸'𝚖 𝚗𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎…" 𝙸𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚣𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎. "𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚜." 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚕𝚞𝚖𝚙 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠, 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛.

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝. 𝚅𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝. 𝙰𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚎. 𝙼𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚜𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚎𝚡𝚑𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝙸𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍'𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚍. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚏. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛.

"…𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘?" 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚢.

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎? 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚘. 𝙾𝚛 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝, 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚑𝚊𝚙 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎. 𝙼𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙷𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚍, 𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝.

"𝙸𝚏 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗…" 𝙷𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚢, 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚗𝚕𝚢. "𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗, 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚖𝚎~ 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞." 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜, 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎.

"𝚈𝚘𝚞… 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚐𝚘?" 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍. "𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘.. 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎?"

"𝙳𝚒𝚍 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛? 𝙾𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍… 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔~ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚞𝚙. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎. 𝚂𝚘, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛 [𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎]?" 𝙰𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜.

𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎--𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑--𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚠, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 ���𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜.

"𝙸… 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎, 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚠. 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗. 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍." 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚔 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝.

"𝙷𝚖𝚖𝚖… 𝙸𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝… 𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞." 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚝, 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝. 𝚆𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗. "𝙵𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛~" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚎𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚢, 𝚑𝚎… 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚞𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝚆𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜? 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎? 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍? 𝙾𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚒𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜. 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚗.

"𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝙰 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚢 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝~" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎.

"…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙰 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚐? 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢. 𝙸𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢. 𝙷𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝. 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚎 '𝚖𝚎𝚝' 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙷𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎, 𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚠. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍.

𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚋𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚞𝚙 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚢. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚓𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚋𝚢 𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚛𝚎. 𝙷𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎…

𝚆𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝. 𝙷𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎… 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚗𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎. 𝙷𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 ��𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚛. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢. 𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚍.

"𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝.

"𝙷𝚖… 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛~" 𝙷𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛, 𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗.

𝙷𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜, 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔. 𝙷𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚠𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚍𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖.

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍--𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖, 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝙸𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚋 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚠𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝… 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚍. 𝙸𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔…

"𝙰𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠, [𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎]. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠? 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜."

...

"𝚁𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙?𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚎."

𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚍𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝. 𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝. 𝚈𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚙𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝. 𝚃𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝… 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎. 𝙰 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢--𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎. 𝚂𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚜𝚕𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛.

𝙰 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘. 𝙰𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕. 𝚀𝚞𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚊, 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚊 [𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎, 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎]. 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚐𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎'𝚕𝚕 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜. 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚒𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎… 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚛, 𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎.

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚊 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚍𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔, 𝚒𝚗𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝.

"𝙾𝚑, 𝙸 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚢, 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛!~" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗'𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍--𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍--𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔. "𝚂𝚘, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚑𝚖?" 𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑.

"𝙸…" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚝. 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛.. 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜. "𝙸 𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎!" 𝙸𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝… 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝.

"𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘?" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚝-𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚗. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍… 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚋 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐. "𝙸 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞! 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍'𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛~ 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎!" 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚓𝚘𝚔𝚎? 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚑 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎. "𝙰𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙𝚎𝚍… 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝙸 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗… 𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚜𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜! 𝙻𝚎𝚝'𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚝, 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚎?" 𝙷𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚞𝚗𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎.

𝙸𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏--𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚝, 𝚒𝚝 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚊𝚜. 𝙰 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕… 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚞𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛.

"𝙷𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐~" 𝙳𝚒𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚙, 𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚔. 𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚝𝚑 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚞𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖. "𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚌𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎…" 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔, 𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍.

𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚓𝚊𝚠𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚔𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚒𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕����…

+:｡.｡𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓔𝓷𝓭｡.｡:+

[arazune]

𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄

summary: losing your virginity can be daunting, even more so when you’re dating the avatar of lust; luckily, asmo is only interested in making this as comfortable for you as possible

pairing: asmodeus x fem-bodied! reader (gn pronouns)

warnings: slightly angsty (insecurities) but with comfort, porn with a hint of plot, loss of virginity, corruption kink, use of toys (vibrator), fingering, asmo being a demon+ demon form! asmo, soft!asmo, consent king asmo,  cream pie/ unprotected sex, use of petnames (sweetheart, darling, love, hon/honey), marking

obey me! masterlist

Being with Asmo was borderline perfect; he was an angel of a demon, if you overlooked his crazy parties and the tendency to voice just about every dirty thought coming to mind. With you though, he was always gentle and very patient. Sure, Asmo being Asmo, he has always been very straightforward about how much he wanted you, both in- and outside the bedroom, but he had always reassured you that he loved you no matter what and was willing to wait for you to be comfortable with taking things further.

Truth was, you had never had sex before, something you had told him early on, even if it meant setting your own face ablaze with embarrassment. So the thought of being this inexperienced while your boyfriend was the literal Avatar of Lust had anxiety ball up in your stomach.

Said demon, however, had only cooed at you, pulling you into a soothing hug before confessing that he was already aware of it but that he very much appreciated you being so honest with him. That was the day you learnt lust demons apparently had a knack for spotting if someone was a virgin or not and you considered crawling into a dark cave and never coming out again.

You had, however, decided against it and had continued your life in the Devildom as usual… well as usual as a human living in literal hell could be. After your conversation with Asmo, you had found yourself lying in bed at night, your thoughts swirling around the cute demon and quickly drifting into more sexual directions, especially on days where you’d spent a lot of time with and around him. Faintly you had wondered if his charm worked on you after all, but you had tossed the thought aside with your panties as you tried to scratch the desire inside of you, desperately trying to bring yourself to a high with your fingers but only ever ending up frustrated between your crumpled sheets.

Perhaps motivated by your denied pleasure, you had stammered out you were ready to take your relationship to the next stage, making Asmo pause scrolling through Devilgram and turning his entire attention on you. Your hands had felt clammy as they curled into his plush comforter and you had avoided looking at him but soon thereafter, soft fingers had grazed your chin and pulled you out of your own head and back to the demon looking at you with so much love and adoration in his sunset-coloured eyes. 

“Thank you for trusting me,” he had said as he pressed a sweet kiss to your forehead. “It means a lot to me.”

After making sure you didn’t feel pressured into this decision, Asmo had sat you down and worked out what you felt comfortable with, what didn’t appeal to you at all and what you weren’t sure about, all under the rule of being subject to change in the future. He had also asked about any experience you had, whether that was using your fingers or if you owned any toys. Upon hearing you used to have one but that it was still up in the human realm, he had playfully suggested going shopping for a replacement. Despite having nudged his side at the comment, you really appreciated him taking the time to understand your situation and you felt significantly less nervous about your inexperience after talking to him.

Against what some might think of him, Asmo had not tried to jump you the second you had given him the go ahead, no. Instead, he treated you to a relaxing self-care evening to ‘scrub away the stress that must have come from making that decision’, letting you soak in his grand bathtub, sharing his expensive creams with you, painting your nails and doing face masks with you.��

In fact, it wasn’t until you were lying on his bed another night, curled up in his warm embrace while watching a film, that anything changed at all. It wasn’t even that the scenes on screen were particularly spicy but something about being so entirely surrounded by him, whether it was his sheets, the scent of his shower gel clinging to his skin or his cologne drifting up to your nose from the shirt you had snatched from his closet, made you crave the demon lying behind you. 

“Asmo,” you crooned, shifting to face him as he hummed at your call, bright eyes blinking down at you curiously. 

“What is it, honey?” Using this chance to sneak some affection, he leant down to let his lips wander over the juncture where your shoulder met your neck, inadvertently encouraging the desire starting to pool below your navel.

“Do you… do you remember what we talked about when we had that spa evening last time?” You gingerly asked, skirting along the edges of the topic at hand.

“We talked about lots of things.” His chuckles vibrated against your collarbones. “You have to be more specific than that.”

“You know what I mean!” You whined. “Are you really going to make me say it?”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to or I might be getting the wrong idea, darling,” he said, tongue trailing your soft skin and amusement clear in his voice. “And we wouldn’t want that, would we?”

“I- I think you might be getting the right idea,” you stammered, your heart beating out of your chest to the point you were afraid it might jump right into his hands. Not that it wasn’t already lying there in a metaphorical sense, at the point of melting as he poked it to his liking with his perfectly manicured hands. “Asmo…”

“Hmm?~” This time the amusement in his voice was apparent, the demon not even trying to hide it.

“Kiss me… Please…” Your whisper was quiet as your eyes skirted down to his glossy lips, before flicking up to his again as one of his fingers traced the curve of your bottom lip.

“So polite~” You watched his stunning eyes slide to half-mast as he leaned in, stopping right as his lips brushed yours, just to tease you even more by moving his head back and making you subconsciously chase his lips. He chuckled airily. “Guess I can’t deny a sweet thing like you, especially when you ask so nicely.”

Then he connected your lips seamlessly, enveloping yours in a pillowy softness you’d only ever find in dreams. Slowly, his hand found its way to the back of your head, nails massaging your scalp gently as he angled your head the way he pleased to guide the kiss. When his tongue swiped languidly over your lips, coaxing you into allowing him entrance, Asmo skilfully pulled the first moan out of you and swallowed it eagerly.

You ran a curious hand up his chest as he deepened the kiss, pure passion radiating off of him and seeping into your brain, jumbling your thoughts around like clinking marbles. With your mind fogging over with lust, it was all too easy for him to roll you over, slotting himself on top of you, careful to not put most of his weight on you.

Following his eager hands running down your sides, Asmo’s lips, too, trailed downwards, leaving lipgloss smudges all over your jaw, throat and collarbones. You couldn’t see it, your eyes closed as you basked in his attention, but Asmo’s downright glowed in his dimly lit room as you tilted your head to the side and bared your vulnerable neck further to him. 

“Oh sweetheart, you’re so good to me,” he crooned, as he licked his lips, drinking in the sight of you, hair dishevelled, collar of his shirt pulled down and his gloss shimmering against your skin. It was a sight that could only be improved upon by getting you to writhe in his sheets as strings of pleasured moans spilled from your lips. Oh, Asmo could already feel his fingers tingle at the image, a shiver running down his spine in anticipation. Well, the best way to get you there would be to get you au naturel first.

Playful fingers crept under the hem of his shirt, dancing along the growing sliver of skin he was exposing, his pearly white teeth showing in a fanged smile at the goosebumps rising in the wake of his touch. 

“You’re too cute for your own good,” he mumbled, almost dazed, as his lips attached to your skin once more, tongue darting out for a first taste, one that made him groan low in his throat and crave more. “So sweet~ How did a darling thing like you fall into the hands of an Avatar of Sin? I bet every demon down here would love to sink their claws into a human like you. But too bad, you’re all mine. All mine to taint.”

The whimper the demon pulled from you as his nails traced over the sensitive skin of your stomach was pure music to his ears and he’d be more damned than he already was if he couldn’t hear any more of your sweet sounds. Though, this night was about you. He’d make sure you were comfortable, that your first sexual experience with someone else would be pleasurable. After all, once you had a taste, he was sure you’d come back to him for more all on your own.

“Darling, can I take this off?” He tugged on the hem of the shirt that was already halfway up your chest. When you only nodded with pleading eyes, he giggled at your enthusiasm but still caught your chin with two fingers. “Sorry, love, but that won’t do. I need your genuine, verbal consent, even if we’ve done this before. Doesn’t matter if I have to pull it from your pleasure-clouded brain later on as long as it’s the truth. So you better memorise that fast, alright?”

“Yeah,” you breathed out as he placed a quick kiss against your temple. Your fingers pushed a soft strand of champagne-coloured hair out of his face, giving you a better look at his slightly dilated pupils before you spoke again. “Help me take my shirt off, please?”

“Sure can do,” Asmo hummed before carefully sliding the garment over your head and arms. When you’d snuggled into bed with him earlier, you’d foregone a bra for the sake of comfort and, now, skilled fingers immediately traced the path of your collarbones, down your sternum before cupping your breasts. “See how perfect these look between my hands? It’s like they’re meant to be worshipped by me.”

It wasn’t the first time you were nude in front of Asmo and it also wasn’t the first time he’d touched you. From bathing together to choosing an outfit, he’d always been a very hands-on kinda guy, as long as you let him. It was, however, the first time where he was working you up for more with his touch and it made your lungs constrict with equal parts nerves and excitement.

If that hadn’t been clear from how he massaged the supple flesh between his palms, it would have definitely been understood when his pink lips wrapped around one of your nipples, fangs slightly indenting the skin around it, while his fingers rolled the other one between them. Despite the new sensation, it felt good, your hand finding its way back into his hair, carding through the strands as you exhaled slowly. 

When Asmo was happy with the marks he left all over your chest, he licked over some of the deeper bites, even if he never broke skin at any point, before trailing kisses further down your centre. By now, there was no lipgloss left to smudge, no matter how kiss-proof it was supposed to be. 

Reaching your hips, his sharp teeth caught the waistband of your pyjama pants, snapping the elastic back against your skin when he pulled away to slide the remaining garments down your legs, again with your approval. Gliding his smooth hands up your bare legs, parting them as he resumed his position between them, Asmo guided your thighs to rest over his. The compromising position had heat curling in your abdomen and your heart rate speeding up without him actually touching you yet.

“Is this alright, darling?” He checked in with you, head coquettishly tilted to the side. “Although there’s no need to be nervous, I want to remind you that we can stop at any point, okay?”

“I know,” you confirmed. “But I want this, Asmo. I want you.”

“My, my, you certainly know what to say to make me excited. Look at you, you look so beautiful with your legs spread out for me. Oh this is going to be so much fun, I’ll make you feel so good.” While he was speaking, his fingers had already wandered up the inside of your thigh, his touch so light you barely felt it against you, yet it had the most tantalising effect. Especially when he skirted around the sensitive area of your core, never quite touching where you needed him most, your hips wriggled for more friction on their own. Something Asmo shut down with a playful tut and a hand pushing you back down, his demonic strength making itself known. “Ah ah ah, sweetheart. We agreed that I’d guide you through your first time, right? So be good and behave and I’ll give you exactly what you want~”

“Asmo, please don’t tease me.” Despite your words, you couldn’t deny that it felt good. Not when you could feel the way your slick started to coat your folds the more he stroked his nails around them. 

“But you look so cute like this, I have to indulge just a little,” he giggled. Then, without a heads up, he swiped his thumb through your slit, catching some of your arousal and smearing it over your clit with scary accuracy. Surprised by the sudden stimulation, you let out an audible gasp as your hips twitched in his hold. “Ooh, that was a gorgeous face. Show me more.”

Without much resistance, he slid one finger inside your entrance, savouring your warmth around him before setting a steady pace and checking your reactions. When there was no discomfort from your side, he soon added a second one, changing the angle every now and then to map out your body.

Getting to work yourself definitely didn’t compare to how Asmo curled his fingers inside of you, the experience of someone else in charge of the movements providing a level of excitement you didn’t have on your own. And while it clearly wound the knot in your stomach tighter than ever before, it still wasn’t enough to get you there and wisps of anxiety slithered past the cracks in your lust.

Shouldn’t this feel amazing? Shouldn’t you be at the point of shamelessly moaning his name by now? But if you couldn’t even orgasm like this, with the Avatar of Lust between your legs, was there something wrong with you? What if—?

The pressure of his thumb running circle eights against your clit effectively cut off your string of doubts as you inhaled a sharp breath, clenching down around the fingers working your insides.

“You’re overthinking again, love. Lust isn’t something you think about, you just feel it. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time, we’re both learning together here.” Asmo leant down to pepper a few kisses around your navel, his voice patient and gentle before picking up a little mischief. “But if your brain decides to be mean, I might just have to shut it off completely.”

That promise certainly made you clamp down harder on him, a shiver running down your spine in anticipation. In turn, Asmo let out a laugh as he eased his fingers out of you, his eyes fluttering shut and a lewd moan bouncing around the room as he cleaned his fingers off with his tongue. The sound would’ve made you rub your thighs together if Asmo’s waist wasn’t preventing you from closing them. 

“I didn’t want to overwhelm you on your very first orgasm but I promised I’d make you feel amazing and I’m holding myself to that.” With a snap of his fingers, something small and pink appeared in his hand, something you identified as a small vibrator. To test the waters, he let the thing buzz to live before gently rolling it closer to your sensitive areas. “You don’t mind this little buddy joining us, do you?”

When the vibrations rolled against your clit, you opened your mouth with a surprised noise, your knees locking his hips in between them. “N-No I don’t mind.”

The demon downright purred in satisfaction as he brought his fingers back to your pussy and resumed his thrusting, still experimenting with the angle and the settings on the toy. Your mind was starting to race again as he hit a different spot inside you and focused the vibrator on a different area and- 

“Oh!” You threw your head back into the pillows, one hand digging into Asmo’s hair, the other into his sheets, as you locked your feet over his butt, his pact mark tingling against your skin. The spasming of your hips was reigned in by the palm holding the vibrator when your back arched off his mattress and your teary eyes clenched shut. Your lips parted in an ‘o’ shape as laboured breaths and rhythmic moans passed through them.

The sight of you giving into pleasure had Asmo’s hips rolling into the bed of their own accord in time with your walls fluttering around his digits, the lust oozing from you as you approached your high making him near delirious with power. 

“Is that it, darling? Is that the spot?” He moaned, his dick straining against the fabric of his underwear as he kept the pace and angle of his thrust consistent, his mind swimming with desire for you, fuelled by the pleasure he was already giving to you. “That’s it, you’re doing so well, you’re almost there. You look so gorgeous falling apart on my fingers, such a perfect human, giving yourself to me. Come on, cum all over my hand, I know you want to.”

You followed his voice through the fog like a sailor following a siren as he pushed you further and further towards release, your stomach clenching and unclenching without any rhythm now. If you didn’t fall over the edge soon, you thought, you’d truly go insane over the foreign pleasure he made you experience, his hands not letting you wriggle away from the intensity.

Then, with a loud moan of his name, bliss washed over you, from your thrown-back head to your curling toes and it made everything worth it. You could feel the pleasure sizzling through your veins like molten lava, melting your bones and leaving you to writhe on his sheets. 

Asmo continued to languidly pump his fingers, coaxing as much arousal from you as he could while the vibrator was still buzzing on the lowest setting until you pushed his hands away when the overstimulation started getting to you.

Leaving you to catch your breath and return to your body, Asmo held eye contact with you, sunsets half-lidded before fluttering shut completely when he brought his fingers up to his mouth. Like he’d done earlier, he cleaned your slick off of them, but this time his moan was obscene as he pressed his hips down into the mattress, his tongue flicking out provocatively as he licked in between his digits. 

“Mhm, just as I thought, you taste divine~” Asmo’s tongue flicked over his lips, catching every bit of your desire clinging to them. “It’s hard to find a delicacy like this in the Devildom, so sweet I could eat you right up. Next time I’ll have to help myself to a proper taste but I know what you really want right now.”

Pulling your centre flush to his hips you could feel his erection through the smooth silk of his pyjama shorts, the material soaking through with your release immediately and clinging to your folds as he rubbed his dick against you. Both of you sighed in unison at the welcome friction; gone were your anxious nerves, you needed to feel him inside of you now. And you weren’t above telling him either.

“Asmo, please, I need you so bad,” you whined, hands trying to reach for him but merely grazing over his hips. “I want you so much, please.”

You watched him shudder at your begging as his hands reached to unbutton his sleep shirt, the pink silk slipping off his shoulders, slowly revealing more and more of his flawless skin. He was basking in your undivided attention on him, making sure to pose perfectly to give you a show, despite having you in his bed already. It was working in his favour though because, as the light framed his champagne locks perfectly, he could see your eyes rake all over him and your fingers twitching to feel his skin against yours.

He took his time sliding his stained bottoms off, revelling in the way your lips parted as his dick slapped against the planes of his abdomen. Just like the rest of him, it was perfect. Flushed a light pink towards the tip with a few veins decorating the shaft, Asmo was just the right amount of length and girth to make your mouth water and walls clench around nothing, something that didn’t go unnoticed by him.

“Like what you see, pretty?” He teased as he settled back above you, his natural body heat enveloping you once more as he leaned up to press more open mouthed kisses along the path of your collarbones, throat and shoulders, his tongue darting out to taste the salty flavour sticking to your skin. 

Warm hands caressed your hips in soothing circles as you wrapped your arms around his neck, the gesture so gentle in contrast to the words being spoken against the shell of your ear. “So beautiful, so sensitive, so soft, I can’t wait to ruin a pretty thing like you. All you have to do is relax and indulge; you can do that for me, right? Just give in to the pleasure, give in to me, and let me do the rest.”

“Yeah,” you nodded, dazed by his close proximity, “I can do that.”

“Such an obedient human, you make me so proud,” Asmo cooed. Shifting his weight onto one forearm, his other palm slid down your body, wrapping around your thigh to hike it over his waist. The position allowed him to thrust his cock through your folds, coating himself in your slick and catching your clit on every forward motion. 

This time there was no mistaking it, his eyes did glow in the dim room, shifting between your bodies and your face, your mewls of stimulation and the tears clinging to your lashes drawing his attention effortlessly. Without resistance, he let you pull him down for a deep kiss, one full of passion and want and need, mirroring perfectly how your hips had started bucking up against him. 

Swallowing each of your breathless noises, Asmo parted from you by tugging on your bottom lips, fangs digging into the plushness. “Are you ready? If anything makes you uncomfortable, tell me immediately.”

When you gave him the okay, he positioned the glistening head of his dick against your soaked entrance before taking his time to push past the first tight ring of muscle. He let his head drop forward as your warmth enveloped him, whereas you threw yours back against the pillows at the stretch. 

There was a slight sting as he pushed in further but it was completely drowned out by the addictive feeling of being filled. You couldn’t believe you went so long without his veins gliding against your velvety walls, clinging to him as if they tried to remember his shape only. If this was lust then you understood why Asmo as its embodiment was so entrancing and alluring.

Said demon exhaled a shaky breath as he bottomed out, his hips flush with yours, willing himself to hold still as you adjusted to his size. Throughout the centuries, he’d thought he’d made just about every experience he could, always making sure whoever he was with had their needs met. He’d charmed countless humans, demons and one or the other angel alike, tumbled into their beds and fed off their lust, satiating both himself and them.

But there was something different about this. This night, there was seemingly no end to his desire; he craved more, he needed more of you. Of you and your lust. Just like when you shared your power with him, there was something about the sin dripping off of you that made it hard to control himself.

Luckily, you were just as impatient to feel more of him as he was, every initial inhibition thrown out the window. Instead, you pressed the heel of your foot into his lower back, encouraging him to go even deeper than he already was. “Asmo, move, please…”

Not needing to be asked twice, he pulled his hips back until only the tip remained inside before thrusting all the way back in, setting a slow but deep pace that had you twisting in his hold. Using the knowledge of your body he’d gained earlier, he had no problems hitting your most sensitive spot dead on to see your back bow in sheer ecstasy.

Embarrassed by the lewd moans and whines echoing around his room, you bit down on the back of your hand, trying desperately to muffle the sounds, only for Asmo’s fingers to curl around your wrist and pull it away again.

“None of that, darling, I want to hear you. You sound so cute with my name on your lips like it’s the only thing you can think about, don’t deny me this pleasure.” He punctuated his sentence by delivering a particularly hard stroke to tear a sinful moan from you as he intertwined your hands, squeezing down on your fingers as you clamped around his cock. “Besides, if anyone gets to bite you, it’s me.”

Now, with your hand pinned beside your head, all your noises were spilling freely, combining with the sound of skin slapping and the obscene squelch of your cunt fluttering around Asmo’s girth to create the most beautiful symphony. Your body felt like it was on fire, the demon burning you from the inside out as beads of sweat started rolling down your temple when the clenching of your walls around your lover started gaining in frequency again.

Trusting you to keep your hand away from your mouth, Asmo slipped it between your bodies, circling your clit and pushing you to greater heights than before, encouraging you to cream all over him. Losing yourself in pleasure, your sentences became more incoherent, all rationale seeping from your mind.

“Oh my god! Asmo!” You wailed at a specific thrust that made your knees jerk against him, free hand tugging on the roots of his hair, clamping down harder at his melodic groan that followed.

“Praying to a demon? What a naughty human,” he chuckled, voice now a lot more strained, his focus entirely on working you up further. “You should’ve learnt by now not to tempt a demon but you’ll see where that lands you.”

The knot in your stomach was so close to snapping, various muscles already flexing under the onslaught of pleasure. You just needed a little more.

The Avatar of Lust was almost in disbelief at how close he was himself. Normally he had better control than this, able to outlast just about anyone if he so desired. Yet, on this night, control was slipping from in between his dexterous fingers faster than he wanted to admit. Seeing you shed your inhibitions and submitting yourself entirely to him and his sin, however, was driving him wild. The ecstasy cursing through your pact only added to the sensation. It was entirely different to any other fling he’d had over the centuries.

Asmo was positively drunk on you, the essence of your lust flooding his senses and making him tremble where he pressed you deeper into the mattress. Pure power was clouding his mind and every one of his nerve endings felt like lightning was passing through it.

There was a rustling in the sex-heavy air as his leathery wings unfurled behind him, flapping with each jerk of his hips. Claws were digging into the skin of your thigh as he tightened his grip on you, no doubt leaving little imprints to find in the morning. Your hand in his hair now closed around the base of one of his horns, feeling the ridges of each segment dig into your palm. 

When he went back to sucking on the sensitive spot at the base of your neck, sharp fangs scraped against the skin of your throat, a silent reminder of the true nature hiding behind his bubbly personality. Yet, the notion that one of the most dangerous demons of hell was currently so close to all your most vulnerable areas didn’t scare you. If anything, it was exciting.

Before you could do so much as warn him, you seized up around him, pushing yourself as close to Asmo as you could when you came with a loud moan of his name on your lips. Wave after wave of sinful bliss washed over you, pulling you in whatever direction they pleased, like a shaky leaf on the tides. 

The sensation shot straight through your pact and down Asmo’s spine, his hips stuttering as he groaned so low in his chest it almost sounded like an animalistic growl. You felt like a doll with its strings cut, boneless and floating as he rode out your orgasm while chasing his own, following no rhythm but still teetering you on the verge of overstimulation.

With one final snap of his pelvis, he pushed himself in as far as he could before searing hot ropes of cum painted the depths of your insides white. Rolling his hips, he coaxed the last bit of pleasure from both of you, then collapsed on top of you to catch his breath. 

For a few seconds, only the sound of your shared breathing could be heard, heartbeats in sync against each other’s chest as Asmo lazily pressed more kisses along your skin, especially in places where he’d left a visible mark. You were in return carding your fingers through his sweat-matted hair, tracing the curve of his horns gently with your fingers. The sensation made him giggle.

“That was a first for me, too,” the demon admitted, sounding not at all shy about it.

“Hm? What was?”

“I don’t usually slip into my demon form without meaning to,” he answered your curiosity. When bright eyes met yours, there was so much adoration shining in them you were glad your knees couldn’t physically buckle. “But you looked so beautiful and felt so amazing, I was transforming before I even knew what was happening. More importantly though, what about you? I sure hope I could live up to the expectation.”

“No, you far surpassed it,” you chuckled. “To the point where I seriously doubt anyone else could make me feel this way.”

“That’s good,” he mused, wiping away a stray tear drying on your cheek. “I’m hardly a possessive guy but with you it’s different. The thought of someone else seeing you like this, of you moaning someone else's name, bothers me. I want to be the only one driving you to sin in this way.”

“I think that can be arranged,” you hummed playfully. Leaning down, you gave the crown of his hair a loving peck and he laughed into the crook of your neck.

“Come on, darling, let’s get you cleaned up,” Asmo cooed, carefully pulling out of you and taking a moment to appreciate the visual of his cum dripping out of you and onto his sheets. 

Holding out his hand for you to take, he waited as you uncurled yourself from the bed, gingerly swinging your legs over the side of the mattress. Only to almost greet the floor as your wobbly legs gave out underneath you as if they were made out of jelly. Despite being busy laughing, Asmo still caught you effortlessly, supporting your weight before sweeping you entirely off your feet and carrying you to the bathroom bridal style. Again, his slender build betrayed his true strength, lifting you as if you didn’t weigh much more than a feather.

“Oops, I should’ve warned you,” he sing-songed, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “Although you flatter me, you could’ve just told me I fucked you good enough for you to lose the ability to walk.”

“Stop making fun of me!” You whined, hands coming up to hide your face, which might as well be set ablaze from the heat rushing to your cheeks.

“Oh I’m not making fun of you, sweetheart. You’re just so adorable, I can’t help myself,” Asmo laughed that airy laugh of his. When you looked up at him, his half-lidded gaze was already on you as he licked his lips, fangs peeking out as you noted he still hadn’t shifted back into his more human form. His voice dropped as he studied the way your throat convulsed when you swallowed.

“In fact, you’re so sweet, I just might make good on my promise to eat you up once I get you into the bathtub.”

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if you like my content, reblogs, comments and asks are always much appreciated ♡

[arazune]

Heyy can i please request alter! Keith (ikemen prince) x fem reader smut with fluff?💕

(A/N): Hello, hello! Thank you for your ask and THANK YOU for giving me a reason to write smut for this man. Hope you enjoy!! (Also, I should definetly study for my Anatomy exam tomorrow but rn all I can think about is Alter!Keith being an absolute SLUT for the reader lmao)

I took a lot of inspiration from 'Criminal' by Taemin. It's SO good!

Breaking His Rules - Alter! Keith x Fem! Reader

Warnings: SMUT | minors DNI, orgasm denial, choking, riding, light bondage, strong language, Alter!Keith being a cocky ass and regrets it instantly, MDom to MSub, FDom, Fem! Reader, fluff, it's a little bit bittersweet, dirty talk, lil bit degradation, fluffy aftercare ending

Character: Keith Howell, Ikemen Prince

Word count: 1.941

Keith was a friendly, maybe a bit shy, man. He was helpful and gentle to all sentient beings who bestowed upon him the same treatment.

But behind his soft eyes there was more than warmth and kindness.

From an early age, Keith's life was beyond traumatizing, leading to him building a wall around himself. A high, stony, cold wall. Nothing and no one should ever get close enough to hurt him again. And so, his alter was born.

Keith believed that this kept him safe from all the unnecessary and time-wasting feelings like love. But he was greatly mistaken.

The moonlight shone softly from outside through the slightly opened curtains. Keith adjusted your sleeping form in his arms and wrinkled his nose. How could he have sunk so low? He should just kick you out of his bed and go to sleep like everyone else in the palace. He didn't have to listen to your feelings, and he didn't have to agree either when you asked him with tired eyes if you could lie down with him because you were too cold to sleep. He could have just let it go. And yet he held you in his arms because the annoying little voice in his head was forcing him to.

Your quiet voice forced him out of his thoughts. "You're looking at me with those weird eyes again..." You sat up in his arms and blinked at him. Keith was about to pull the covers back over you but stopped himself. Why should he?

"No one is forcing you to stay with me. I can look at you however I want and if it bothers you, you're welcome to fucking leave alone'', came his reply. He tried to sound as emotionless as possible. Why was it so difficult all of a sudden?

He looked into your eyes, searching for something - anything - that remotely resembled rejection or fear. So he could belittle you for it. So that you would finally disappear. So that he didn't have to deal with the feelings he had locked away all those years and now no longer understood. But all he saw in your eyes was something he didn't think he needed. Something he had long detested. All he saw was affection, love and...

Your hand found his cheek and he realized with a start that he had no problem with it. He caught himself chasing the warmth of your hand and laughed listlessly as he stared into your eyes. ,,I cannot believe it. You've made a damn lapdog out of me.'' He took your hand from his cheek and pressed it along with his own onto the mattress next to him. You cocked your head and looked at him with confused eyes, "We both know that's not true, don't we?"

Keith caught his breath. Did you notice him acting differently? Why was it making him so nervous?

He grabbed your shoulders and pushed you away, his brows furrowed. You caught yourself just before the end of the bed and looked up. You were used to this behavior. Keith didn't know how to deal with your feelings and hid behind an arrogant, cold face. But you knew he shared your feelings. He showed it through small acts that went unnoticed by others.

For example, his hand wandering over your head so you wouldn't hit it when you bend down at the table – or when he went into town with you 'because he wanted to go for a walk anyway' and of course not at all to take care of you and to help you carry your groceries. Or right now when he held you in his arms because you were cold and he didn't want you fuck up your sleeping schedule.

You slowly got up and stood in front of his side of the bed. You were lenient with him, but sometimes he just needed a little reminder that you didn't care about his little tantrums. Sometimes he just needed a little more... discipline.

Keith was about to ask what the hell you were doing when you suddenly sat on his chest. Your thighs pushed his arms apart, which you tied to the bedpost with the belt lying on the floor – he had previously carelessly removed it and tossed it there. Keith frowned at you but said nothing. You leaned down and wrapped your hand around his neck, applying light pressure. He continued to look at you silently. It was clear from his eyes that he was aware of the trouble he was in. Under you, in your total control. "You just have to say one word and I'll stop. You know that, right?'' You purred against his lips. The only answer you got was a soft 'fuck off' which made you grin. "I knew you didn't want me to stop. I can see it written all over your face. You hide your feelings and you expect me to accept that? Haha… not quite aware of your place yet, huh?'', you shifted your weight onto his chest a little more and pressed a little harder on his neck, "You're my desperate little lapdog. And I think you're lacking in the behavior department.''

Keith escaped a - most likely unintentionally, whimper and his legs bent slightly. "Ah ah ah'', you released his neck and pushed his legs down, "Stay down".

You slowly looked at Keith lying below you. He was wearing his sleep shirt, which hung half unbuttoned on his chest, and boxer shorts instead of pajama bottoms, which were too warm for him. You slowly began to pull his shirt off and threw it off the bed. Grinning, you stroked his already hard nipples, making him shudder. "Fucking get it on already, don’t sit on your ass teasing me" Keith grumbled, tugging at his restrains. Grinning, you ran your tongue over his naked torso and sucked at his skin over his collarbone. Keith gasped as he could almost feel a dark red bruise forming. You looked at him with an innocent face. ,,Oops, that’ll stay for a bit''

With a quick hand movement his boxer shorts went on the floor next to his shirt. You slowly took his already half hard dick and stroked his tip a little. Keith was visibly trying not to make a sound and glared at you as you stroked his cock up and down painfully slow, your fingertips ever so close to touching him. He pressed his lower body against the bed and turned his head to one side. Grumbling, you grabbed his chin and pulled his face back towards you. ,,You’ll watch me.'', slowly you pulled your shirt over your head and threw it to the small pile of clothes in front of the bed, your pants following right behind. You slowly slid over his cock with your pussy still covered by your panties. Keith bit his lower lip - still confident he wouldn’t give in and stared at your breasts moving slightly in rhythm. Dissatisfied, you pulled his lower lip free from his teeth and gave him a kiss. "You're still holding back. Let go.'' You whispered against his lips and straightened up again. Keith's eyes softened a little, but he remained silent. Sighing, you pulled your panties aside and looked down at him. ,,I'll get you to make noise'', with these words you took him in completely, which elicited a small groan from him. Keith was big - very big. But you didn't mind anymore - it wasn't your first time with him. Keith's mouth fell open and he exhaled heavily. You almost had him.

You slowly began to move, hands heavy on his chest. He breathed heavily in and out, he realized that he couldn't hold back his moans anymore and they spurted out of him like a spitfire. "Fuck, faster m-more...'', his cheeks flushed, and he looked at you with pleading eyes, all his previous resistance forgotten. Grinning, you stroked his chest and rode him faster, one hand wrapped around his neck again as he stifled a groan and thrusted into you from below. His thrusts became increasingly uncoordinated, and you realized he was about to cum. As he got louder and louder, you started to slow down until you suddenly lifted up your hips and his cock slipped out of you. Keith caught his breath and stared at his cock, which was now starting to twitch needily on his stomach. He looked up at you. Your breathing had calmed down again, and you started massaging your breasts – a grin on your face. "You didn't really think I'd give you what you want, did you? After being so cheeky?'' One of your hands wandered down your body to your wet pussy. You slowly rubbed light circles and leaned back so Keith could have a better look while enjoying the show you put on for him. Keith, on the other hand, only grew more impatient. He cursed and growled as he tried to get his cock back into the warmth of your pussy. But he had to watch you helplessly as you made first two and then three fingers disappear inside you, your own orgasm not far away. You groaned and looked at him, tilting your head. "Not so cocky anymore, huh?", you got a growl from him, which quickly turned into a whimper. Keith closed his eyes, only to open them again a few seconds later. "I'm sorry.. p-please..", his voice sounded a lot thinner and shakier than usual. You slowly pulled your fingers out and held them out to Keith. Without hesitating he put them in his mouth and sucked on them greedily. While he was busy sucking, you lifted your hips back over his cock and your pussy folds rubbed along his length. He moaned with your fingers in his mouth and pressed his lower body against yours. You had planned to torment him a little longer, but your own orgasm was not far away and you didn't want to turn this into a punishment for yourself.

It wasn't long before Keith pressed his head against his pillow and came with a loud groan. You weren't far behind him, cumming against the length of his cock. You slowly calmed down and grabbed the belt that restrained Keith's arms. But your hands grabbed nothing. You looked at him with big eyes as you realized that Keith was holding his hands back himself - the belt had slipped behind the bed. You hadn't tied it well enough and he didn’t do anything about it? Your eyes sought Keith's, but he had them closed while slowly breathing in and out. You crawled off him, but his arms immediately shot around your waist to pull you back onto him. "You- you could have just said something, you know?" you grumbled. Keith put his head back on your neck and growled, "Shut up. You're annoying'', he paused briefly and added "not as much as usual tho".

Giggling, you stroked his head and he pulled the covers over you. "I didn't hu- I don't even need to ask, you could have just stopped me yourself if it was too much." You grumbled and Keith grinned slightly. "I could have. Your bondage skills suck.''

You gave him a light slap on the arm, and he exhaled deeply, suddenly a lot less tired than before.

"We can do it again," you pushed yourself free from his grip. Keith glanced out the window and then back at you. "But this time it's my turn." He smirked and shoved you under him.

You both ended up not getting much sleep that night.

[arazune]

the sheer amount of artistic talent put into these panels to portray the right feeling on clark’s face is amazing

[arazune]

Aqua

Thanks to the blessing of @mintfoxmimi  I was able to create a story of her Octo-bros. They’re so cute and if you have seen the beauty that is her artwork, please check it out!

14K words so please let me know if it crashes

~

Early morning, super early morning. You never understood why you needed to be here for early mornings. At 6 in the morning, no one was up and only you and a handful of people were in the building at this awful hour. Still, you couldn’t really be too upset, at 6 in the morning, with the building empty, and only the night shift lights on the building looked absolutely lovely. The huge glass windows of blue giving you the idea of what it was like to be underwater with all these wonderful creatures.

Working early morning shift for data entry at Insomnia’s Aquarium did have its perks. The large Aquarium was named after the fabled city that was supposed to have been lost to the ocean’s depths thousands of years ago.

“Morning, Sweetie.” You called, moving to your desk stuffed away in the back area of the “storage” facility of the back offices holding bay. Your desk the only one there, as it was the smallest one, but you were surrounded by moveable tanks of wonderful creatures in a tropic-like environment.

Seguir leyendo

[arazune]

Beauty and the Beast

Vil x reader x Leona

Gender neutral reader ( afab and amab separately )

Cw: Double penetration , anal sex , ( reader giving/receiving) oral , degradation , praise , rough sex , pussy spanking.

This is just me being down bad for Leona and Vil , I would like to be in between these two.

♡ being in between these two is a nightmare dressed like a daydream

♡ it can be your greatest fantasy or your worst nightmare

♡ they are both bossy, but dear gods they want completely different things

♡ vil could order you to do one thing and Leona would order you to do the complete opposite

♡ so there is bound to be some punishments at some point

♡ “ go on little herbivore , look at your king ” “ tch .. how about you look at your queen instead ”

♡ what could you do ? You could look at one and have one person punish and degrade you , while the other rewards and praises you

♡ or you could look at neither of them and have them both punish and degrade you

♡ the choice is yours , but either way you were going to be punished no matter what you did.

♡ they bicker A LOT during sex , so be ready for that

──────────────────────────────────────────

Afab!reader !

“ look at me , don't look at him , herbivore . ” Leona spoke as he grabbed your face , squishing your cheeks as you whine softly , eyes watering as you looked right into Leona's eyes , choosing to obey Leona instead. Leona grinned in triumph , Vil was obviously upset , glaring daggers at the Beastman , who had you wrapped around his finger. “ good . ” Leona croaked out as he rubbed his erection against your ass. Gripping them with his hands , nails digging into the fat of your ass. He spread the cheeks apart before thrusting it inside , you let out a loud moan.

Vil already had his head between your thighs , holding them apart , blowing a thick wad of spit on your pussy before slapping it harshly. You let out a sob at the stinging pain on your weeping cunt. “ bad pets don't get soft treatments from the queen ” Vil said as he spread your folds apart , spitting on your cunt once more making you moan. He stuffed his nose in between your folds tongue moving along your pussy , he pushed it against your clit , giving it a kitty lick before shoving his tongue inside of you , which caused you to toss your head back with a loud moan. “ how naughty you are , first you disobey me and now you don't even look at me while receiving your punishment , maybe I shouldn't let you cum ” you sobbed again and shook your head , begging for him to let you cum.

You could hear Leona scoff from behind you , how dare this pretension blonde take your attention away from him , he was making you feel good , not him ! Another thrust into you caused you to automatically look back at him. “ he's being mean to ya’ ? Not gonna let you cum ? ” he starts as he rocks into you more. “ so why don't you pay attention to me instead ? M’ bein’ nice , I'll let you cum , don't listen to him ” Leona coos into your ear , thrusting into you at a harsh pace. “ no . Naughty pets don't get to cum , kingscholar , you know this ” Vil grumbled “ naughty ? I believe they're being a good little thing , taking me so well and being so obedient ” Leona praised , licking the shell of your ear , causing you to tighten up. “ don't even think about cumming until I tell you ” “ tch .. don't listen to him , you can cum , sweetheart ” these two are going to be the death of you ..

Amab!reader

─────────────────────────────────

“ look at me , sweetheart ” Vil cooed from behind you. You automatically obeyed his orders and looked behind you to see Vil's eyes filled with appeasement and lust. “ good pet , you look so pretty like this , oh so pretty .. ~ ” Vil cooed , lust lacing his words as he rocked his rock hard cock against your ass. He licked his lips , watching you whine push back against him. “ no need to get impatient, darling ~ just let your queen take care of you ” vil hummed , taking the base of his cock into his hands and positioning the tip at your asshole. Then, he finally pushed inside , you called out his name in pleasure , gripping the bed sheets. “ ah ~ so good ! Good .. you're so good , darling ” he praised against your ear , making you whimper in delight.

Through your teary eyes you could see that Leona was not very happy with your decision to obey the housewarden of pomefiore instead of himself. Leona grabbed your face and brought your face to his own erection. “ since you wanna be obedient to him instead of me , you can make yourself useful for once and get me off too ” he growled as he positioned the tip of his cock at your lips. “ go on , suck ” he ordered , you hesitantly opened your mouth and Leona shoved the hole thing into your mouth. The tip hitting the back of your throat. Taking a firm hold of your face he began to fuck into your mouth roughly. He groaned loudly , his tail thumping against the bed. “ stupid herbivore ... You should have obeyed your king instead , but no you had to obey him instead ” he mumbled as his hips slapped against your face.

Vil took one hand off your hips and wrapped it around the base of your cock and pumped it , you let out a moan around Leona's cock causing him to groan and move his hips faster. “ no cumming until I do , herbivore ” he ordered as he fucked into your mouth more. As vil was fucking into your ass and jerking off your cock. Hips slapping against you from both ends made you wanna cum right there. “ don't listen to that stupid lion , go on cum , I know you want to ~ ” cooed vil as he dragged his cock out slowly before slamming it all the way back inside , making you cry out. “ tch .. I said no ” “ well I say they can ! ” gods this was gonna be a long night.

[arazune]

TWO TREATIES! - A DIRTY FANFICTION OF OBEY ME

In which: it's not cheating if they liked it, right?

Pairing: Lucifer X fem reader X Diavolo

Warning include : cheating, dirty talk, sex, sex and sex

a/n :... hi. Just hi. And enjoy.

=please expect grammatical error and wrong use of words because English is my second language

Diavolo appears in Part 2, if people still wanted this to be continued though

"And with my toast, let the celebration begin!" 

Diavolo's enthusiasm cheered the masquerade guests. The spacious ballroom was covered in glitter and gold, decorations of such demands of money topping the exquisite interiors of the castle. Lord Diavolo's possession has never dulled the eyes of the devils, humans and even angels. For a guy who always expects perfection around him and, in addition people's pleasure, the next king of Devildom had his way of spending his unlimited fortune.

As Diavolo's speech was over, devil aristocrats greeted the red-haired prince individually. Diavolo's charm permanently blinds humanity. Be them possessed the rock of a heart; your husband's talent to make people stay is outstanding. Your dress tonight matched his taste of him too. The elegant evening dress was covered with a translucent twinkling veil, which made it look like the stars followed your every move. Of course, the attire was red. You need to match Diavolo's aesthetic as his loyal wife. 

"Prince Diavolo, it is such an honour to be here," a guy you never cared about grinned widely at Diavolo as your husband reciprocated. The handshake was short-lived as the guy shifted his eyes to you. "What a lovely wife, such a fit for the Queen of Devildom title… soon" he let go of Diavolo's palm and offered you his. 

"That's such an exaggerated compliment; I am as ordinary as a human could be," you humbled, precisely aimed for the guy's hand for the formal handshake. "I see that you have excellent taste when it comes to humans, my Lord?" the guy teased, wishing his jokes were original for Diavolo to hear. Yet to unveil the truth, he heard it way too many times. "It seems that I can't find the right devil for me" your husband's answer never surprised you. It has always been the same answer to the same questions. 

The lads laughed while you stayed silent and obeyed the principle of being a princess of hell. "Listen, Prince Diavolo…" The guy shifted his emotions as he went serious. His hand landed on Diavolo's spine as he led your husband away from you. Maybe another business matters? You sighed. Lately, Diavolo had been so busy that you could only hold his hand at the business party. 

After long arching your back, you finally sighed and rested your position to achieve the best posture. Even after being Diavolo's wife, you still feel lost and pure out of the world without your husband—such innocent emotions inside the world where evil was a trait. 

But even with the absence of the Lord, the crowd still swarmed you, leaving no gaps for breathing. 

"Princess y/n?, I wanted to introduce you to…." 

"Oh, Princess y/n, can we ask you a few questions…?" 

"Princess y/n, if you could pursue the Prince to agree on my project…."

Each business succubus and incubus request blurs your vision. With their evil stare and the sinful thoughts of corruption in their wicked mind, you needed to be cautious. One may use their power on you to blind your husband's eye. Still, if they believe their chances to manipulate you are high, they are all childish. You are the future queen of Devildom; of course, you're no ordinary human. 

But when Diavolo stepped out from your range, you had to admit; this was all intimidating… you still need guidance. 

Your forehead was sweating from anxiety; you started to fight for the front line to express their wishes to you, hoping you could talk it out with Diavolo. The smell of various cologne stabbed your nostril, which wasn't pleasant. These demons must have had demonus repeatedly until the alcohol stained their scent. You eyed the private room, a perfect getaway from this overwhelming, unnecessary interview. 

"Sorry, I need to go elsewhere," you politely excused yourself; your dress almost ripped when their feet blocked your path, making you step on your clothing. 

"I believe I can put you in the castle's dungeon. Prithee, move" the tone was just the same as Diavolo’s when he was demanding, making them go silent as the pathway was more apparent than before. Diavolo's habit has rubbed off on you, the need for luxuries, the fraudulent enthusiasm; almost half of his soul was already inside yours. 

With the sound of your heels, which was loud yet sunken into the noises of guests and orchestra, your steps reached the door's entrance as you opened it. A private room with a double king-sized bed, a large mirror handmade by Devildom's best woodcraft, and a fireplace greeted your eyes. It was a dumb thing to not stay here, away from the eyes of the public… away from the struggles of being flawless as Diavolo's partner. 

As you entered, your first instinct was to sit on the bed and bury your ashamed face in your quivering palm. Your soft skin felt stiff, and the crackling fire did not help warm this chamber's chill. You were so caught up with the emotions as they ate you. The restless struggle to always be a fit for Diavolo drained you out. The paparazzi always had their eyes on you, especially knowing that any headlines that started with your name were a hot topic. 

As you were drowning in the ocean of your tears, you didn't realise a man had already come in; ever so stealthy, he locked the door as he leaned against it. 

"Enjoying the time?" 

You abruptly looked at the source of the tone, figuring out how he managed to come inside. 

Still leaning, he grinned. "You forgot to lock the door," as if he could read you like an open book, your face telling him your confusion. 

"I know," you said, trying to mask the embarrassment that you are in such a depressed state and forgot to lock the door. The guy raised his eyebrow, knowing you lied.

"What do you want, Lucifer?" you finally gathered the courage to mutter his name. 

"I've warned you, y/n," the demon said, still putting his weight against the door. His arms were crossed, and his look was serious. It wasn't the type of seriousness that Lucifer always displayed when dealing with Belphegor's trick or when Devildom's crime rate was at its highest, and he was doing his best to lower the graph chart. 

Instead, it was a look of pure concern that didn't require him to move his eyebrows to show it. If you had known Lucifer long enough, that 'poker face' he offered wasn't poker. The sadness was written all over his diamond eyes. His pale skin was paler than ever, and his lips were raging for moisturiser. Lucifer was hopeless, and it wasn't even his problem. 

"Yeah, and you warn me for nothing," you said, finally breaking the eye contact. "I'm excellent… I was just… tired" you tuck your hair at the left side of your ears; the jewellery that hung off your earlobe was red-hued, paired with a few tiny emeralds around the gemstone. That was an expensive one. One thing people should know about being Diavolo's partner is he turns his favourite people into a jewellery display. The proof goes to you; the earring was just half a drop of your accessories possession. 

"Lie all you want, y/n. I can read you like a magazine" Lucifer boasted his ability. You stood up from the side of the bed as your eyes looked at him with much hatred. Your eyes may not be red like his, but he knew you were mad, even without that bloody colour. 

"Don't talk to me like you fucking know everything," you gritted your teeth, warning him that you can be unpredictable if you want, far from his annoying eyes, which can see right through you. 

"I don't know everything in this world, y/n," he replied calmly despite you starting to show hostility. "Yet I am confident I knew you better than your husband." 

It took him two sentences to pushed you over the edge. Your feet stepped closer to him, leaving only an inch of gap between the two of you. You lift your face up to threaten his eyes while Lucifer didn't move his head downward, even the slightest. His irises did most of the work. That egotistical look was his signature expression.

"Take that back," your voice lowered its tone. You were serious. 

"I'll take that back once you proved that I was wrong," Lucifer challenged you, knowing damn well he had already won. 

Everything was too intense in the room; even watching Lucifer's pretty face seemed wrong. The history between you two before Diavolo marked you as his was fiery. The playful teases, the sinful desires even at the dining table, and those acts of service between each other like a married couple. Recently, as a wife of Diavolo, you thought to yourself. Was it your fault for taking Lucifer's action so lightly? Or was it Lucifer's fault for never confessing?

You turn around, only showing your back to Lucifer instead of your already teary eyes. It takes everything in you to not let a sigh escape your mouth and to not show any distress in front of Lucifer, but this firstborn demon always knows what happened. 

"Y/n…" you feel his hand wrap around your waist and his chest touching your nape. Lucifer was tall for a demon; imagine if he ever stepped into the human world with this height. He tends to shrink his size whenever he visits your world, trying to blend in at the average height of a human. 

Lucifer didn't say a thing as he took a whiff of your hair. "Your smell never changed, my love," his whisper was vehement and almost made you melt with the combination of his touch plus his hot breath. He lowered his face to your neck. Lucifer always loved to tease, so he didn't suck it right away; instead, he let his pink lips brush your skin, making you gasp. 

"Lucifer… we can't" your angel side knows this is wrong. Your oath to be a loyal partner for your husband will soon break if your past lover keeps doing this. "We need to st.." 

Lucifer sucked in the skin of your neck, making you moan instead of finishing the words. His hands were getting naughtier as both left your wrist and slid upwards to your breast. 

"Oh my god," you whispered as a reply to his sultry actions. Lucifer's hand groped your breast, teasing the hardened bud with your clothes protecting it. The room suddenly felt hot, and not because of the fireplace. 

"y/n, the safeword, do you still remember?" Lucifer asked as he was done creating hickeys at your neck. 

"red.." your breath still scattered, poorly patterned. 

"If you tell me to stop, I won't" the demon squeezed your boobs; in a way, the pain wasn't torture yet a pleasure. "say red, " I'll go."

"but -" you were about to go on a debate, but Lucifer forced your body to face him. It was clear that Lucifer was drunk, not by the taste of demonus, but by the rum of your skin. "Weird, did you rub alcohol to your neck?" he playfully asked. Your face flushed red, and a hot sensation from your cheek went up to your ears. 

"Lucifer, we need to stop…." you begged again as he pulled you in for a kiss. It was a passionate one, a starter for another tongue-twisted lovemaking. Even half of your soul was telling you this was wrong; still, your mouth reciprocated his soft kiss until you gaped at your lips, wishing you could feel how his tongue wrestled with yours. 

"Mmm," you can feel Lucifer smirking as your body language never lies. He slid his tongue inside your mouth, completely dominating the kiss; the passionate kiss turned rough as Lucifer unbuttoned his attire, leaving his abdomen naked, knowing how longed you were for his body. The spit dribbled from your mouth as you tried to keep up with Lucifer's eager lips. 

Before pulling out the kiss, Lucifer licked most of the spit at your mouth. Your eyes were half-lidded, and the breathing pattern was a mess. Lucifer looked at the aftereffect of his kiss towards you as he grinned slightly. "It looked like you haven't been doing this for so long…. When was the last time Diavolo tongue kissed you?" he chuckled. 

"Stop…" you muttered; the word was a lie, but you felt you needed to say it. If you didn't, you would feel so guilty. Yet, when Lucifer kissed you, the image of Diavolo never came through your head, as if your instinct telling you this was right and a little cheating wouldn't hurt anyone… as long as it was a secret. 

"Say red, y/n. I will immediately stop and leave this room," Lucifer explained again. He did not strike any kisses now; he was just waiting for you to say the safe word. His hand stayed still at your waist, never trying to go for your curves. You know he was trying to make your mind decide whether to leave or to enjoy. 

But the moment Lucifer was silent, you were also…. Silent. You were supposed to say red since you wanted to stop. But you just… can't. You don't want this to end after getting all hot and bothered by Lucifer's kiss. 

Lucifer's eyebrows were raised. You didn't say red, and that fact made him smile cheekily. 

"I knew it; you want me", he whispered as his hand finally slipped to your butt and squeezed it. Lucifer has a fixation with boobs and butt… He worshipped it; he marked it, especially yours.

"On your knees, darling. You know what pleased me.." a moan escaped his mouth as he saw you obey his word. You fell onto your knees and looked at him the way you did every time you followed him, except if Lucifer blindfolded you. 

His hand rested on your head, ruining your perfect hairstyle. It didn't matter to Lucifer; he always loved it when you looked like a mess from his touch. He bit his lips as your eyes locked, but your hand travelled from his thigh to his bulge. It's like you have known his body so well that you can make him cum by touching a specific part of his body without looking at it. 

Though Lucifer was throbbing down his cock, you, for a fact, were drooling for that. Your heart beat faster than usual; even touching Diavolo's chest never drove you crazy like this. Your eyes shifted to the devil's clothed dick, the big bulge clearly visible through his pants. You recalled the last time you had it inside your mouth. Slowly, your hand unfastened his belt as you unzipped his pants. 

"Fuck", you cursed incoherently, making sure Lucifer didn't hear you. Yet, with the silence in this room, even the sound of throbbing at your pussy was clear to Lucifer. He chuckled, patting you on the head. "Atta girl, look at this dick like you have never seen anyone as big as me", he praised. His hand lingered from the top of your head to the back of it. "Beg for my cock like the good girl you are", his voice mixed with a moan and the stern tone of demand. 

You were sort of getting high through Lucifer's sinful command. The rushed adrenaline of sensuality ate you up. The last time you were so eager to have sex was forgotten. In Devildom, Lord Diavolo may be a sex symbol; the sketches of his venis and, along with his tanned skin, even sweats on his body could make any demons cum. 

But have they ever learned that Diavolo had never made you wet as much as Lucifer had? 

"Please…" you mewled, placing your face on his muscled thigh. "Let me have your cock, Lucifer" your hand moves upwards from his calves to his gluteus. The man clenched his jaw, and a heavy huff escaped his mouth. You could feel his knee weaken to your beg; at this point, even with Lucifer dominating the sex, you can feel you are winning here. 

"Fuck…"  the devil hissed, and as you were convinced nothing could get harder than his clothed cock in front of you, his bulge was getting bigger, reacting to your playful tone. "Shit, y/n. How dare you turn me into this" the pride demon blamed you for his desire. 

"Touch me, now…" how the table turned as Lucifer entreated. The demanding face turned into begging. It has been so long since you tasted Lucifer's dick, and the tape replayed again, but it was taboo cheating. 

Your hand reached for the elastic band of his boxers and undressed his cock. Such a big thing for such a big guy. Has it grown bigger? That's impossible. Lucifer was big enough the last time you had him fuck you on the dining table 2 years ago. But as it sprung out, you finally understood the hype under his happy trail. 

Part of you wanted to scream, yet you also wanted to stuff this most significant part of his body inside your wet mouth. "Come on, y/n. Suck me," his voice brought you back to reality. "Don't keep me waiting, or I'll do the same to you", he warned, placing his palm above your head, ready to guide your pace for his cock. 

You grasped his great length without hesitation as you opened your mouth, having zero ideas if it would fit. Lucifer chuckled as he saw you struggling. "You're afraid it won't fit if you aren't confident in yourself."

You met his eyes again after a long time of only watching his cock. "Come on, let me help. Open your mouth wide, and believe in yourself," he assured, yet a hint of treacherousness hid behind his words. 

You obeyed as you let go of his dick. Allowing Lucifer to put it inside your mouth. As eager as Lucifer was, he was still himself. A teaser. He gripped his cock as he placed his tip on your lips and spread the precum slowly onto it like lipstick. The sensitivity rose inside Lucifer's aching body, yet he didn't mind. The veins on his cock were pumped, excited to let the cum all out. 

"God damn it, I missed your lips", he spoke under his breath, murmuring as the tip froze at the centre of your lips and shoved right inside your mouth as you gagged. Lucifer hissed as the back of your throat touched his dick, and your hot mouth reciprocated the simulation of a wet pussy. "mmh…" he moaned, loud enough for people outside to notice it. 

"mmfaggh.." you begged for air as Lucifer thrusted his cock deep inside your throat while you tried to catch his pace. Your hand clawed at Lucifer's thighs as your watery eyes started to wet your cheeks, followed by your expensive makeup. 

You let his dick slip up on your tongue to maximise his arousal, and it worked. Lucifer's moan turned into a pathetic cry as he begged for more. "Fucking bad girl, did you suck that demon lord's dick like this? I want to watch you once in a while" he started to vent his fantasies while his strong grip still abused your hair. 

"Damn it, y/n… I'm… ack" his pulsating dick twitched as Lucifer's pace got faster, and you could taste a hot liquid dripping inside your mouth. "Shit… shit… haa.." when the first half was you who got her breathing unpatterned, this time was Lucifer. He was far from reality and sex was all he could think about right now.

It was coming to an end when you realised his twitching dick released his semen. Demons produced much more than humans, so your mouth couldn't fit most of it, and it dripped down your chin. The sticky white substance came from Lucifer's cock piercing your taste buds as your slut self registered that taste as sweet. The ruby-eyed demon sighed in relief after his frustrated cock finally calmed down.

He pulled out and looked at his product. Your face was utterly ruined, and your lipstick stained his cock too. He chuckled, awfully happy with your messy look. "I'm not done with you, y/n," he said as he kneeled, scooping you from your squat position and threw you to the large bed. 

Your eyes, from half-lidded, widen at the man's acts. "Lucifer!" you gasped as he aimed for your thigh and forced you to open your legs, revealing your sexy undergarment that had been thoroughly soaked. Lucifer placed his lips on your left thigh, so close to your groin. He nibbled your skin. The first reflex for you was to flinch, yet Lucifer was determined to put you in your place that his grip chained your movements. 

"Haa... Luc... Luci…" you muttered while looking at his face between your legs. The demon sucked passionately as he suddenly bit you. "Fuck!" you yelped. The pain sent you to reality as your clouded, hazy mind finally saw tranquillity. Lucifer knew you were half alive there, and he wasn't the type to make love with a corpse. Hence, his bite did an excellent favour to your consciousness. 

"You're soaked, princess y/n. Wasn't Diavolo a great husband?" his pet name of yours caused you to realise you were actually married to a Prince and the next King too? But this taboo is what makes it exciting to you. "The next time Diavolo decides to eat your pussy, make sure he notices my bite mark" Lucifer risked heaven and hell mattered as he said that, and you were embarrassed to have your private to be exposed, especially knowing the fact it was flooding down there. 

"I'll have this, thank you…." he said as his face grew closer and closer to your pussy when the door knocks disrupted the erotic scene. 

"Y/n, are you in there?" 

Your eyes widened, yet Lucifer smirked. 

"Diavolo, you're right on time."

Interested in my work? I have plenty more to offer:

;)

[arazune]

WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

This post contains : Masterlist

A bit of introduction

Donate me so I can do more work! : erin's paypal

MASTERLIST

Gamer Moan! (completed)

Gamer moan is suitable for people who are looking for Leviathan X fem reader X Mammon fanfiction that contain lewd, smut and 18+ content.

Part 1

Part 2

Sex in the air! (ongoing)

This fanfiction is not recommendable to read since it have a lot of grammatical error and typos. I was at my darkest day when writing this resulting a shitty story. But people enjoyed it and to be honest, it ranked in the second place as the most popular fanfic made from this blog lol °^°

Sex in the air is suitable for people who are looking for Diavolo X fem reader X Lucifer fanfiction that contain lewd, smut and 18+ content

Part 1

Part 2 (ongoing)

Sh33pch4n! (ongoing)

Sh33pch4n is suitable for people who are looking for Lucifer X fem reader and have a fantasy of being a 18+ cam girl. This fanfiction contains mature language and 18+ content

Part 1

Part 2 (on going)

TEACHER'S PET (ONGOING)

Teacher's pet is suitable for people who have daddy issues and looking for professor Satan X fem reader. This fanfiction contains taboo relationships between a teacher and a student along with mature languages and 18+ content

Part 1

Part 2

MONEY MACHINE (ONGOING)

Money Machine is suitable for people who worshipped anger sex and love the adrenaline of being caught while having sex. This contains a lot of degradation that some may find uncomfortable. This fiction includes 18+ scene and mature languages.

Part 1

Part 2 (ongoing)

TWO TREATIES! (ONGOING)

Two treaties is suitable for Diavolo and Lucifer's stan who fantasies about being dominated by the two of them. This fiction contains 18+ scene, mature language, cheating concept, humiliation (part 2) and degradation (part 2)

Part 1

Part 2 (ongoing)

More content are coming! My submission will always be open and I hope I'll do my best for your entertainment!

Writer's information ;

Hi my lovely followers! My Internet name is erin and I lived in Asia district which explained why I have lots of grammatical mistake -_-. My favourite anime is Bleach and my dream job is to either open a bakery or becoming a writer. But if I couldn't achieve those, I'll probably become an english teacher!

Don't be afraid to hmu in dm!

Love and kisses,

erin ^-^

donate me here to see more of my work! :-

ainul is my real name lul

[arazune]

Inexperience Sweetens The Experience (IkeVamp Leonardo, Comte - NSFW Headcanons)

Warnings: NSFW/18+ Tags: making-out, drawn out kisses, inexperienced reader, polyamory, sexual intercourse, praise (kink) and encouragement of a nervous lover

Author's Notes: I've had your Ask tucked away into my box for so long now, Nonny, I'm not sure you'll catch this (if ever)! BUUUUT

I absolutely can. Do Them! Every. Which. Way. I'm not sure how you intended for me to write these; my [gremlin-certified] brain read this as polyamory. Halfway through, I realized you might've wanted them written individually and not as a trio. Also grappled with how far you might've wanted me to go with exploring inexperience which does not necessarily equate to a virgin MC. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy what you read here! Please feel free to ask me for them separately, if this isn't what you hoped for, the next time I open requests! 🙇‍♀️

This discussion for sure takes place when you are settled comfortable in between your two men (when are they not making sure you are only at your most relaxed, especially with Saint-Germaine in the mix?).

The plush of the settee is comforting underneath your back and hips but not so much as their steady warmth on either side of you.

Before, Leonardo — like on most days you have privacy to yourselves — lifts you sideways and onto his lap, letting le Comte be the recipient of your knees hooked upon a firm thigh he moves closer to accommodate your seat better.

The edge of your skirt riding up with the position and le Comte likes to trace a hand down across the soft of your thigh in appreciation, along with his afternoon tea.

Never failing to break shivers across your legs.

“Snug enough, cara?” Leonardo inquires, even when he knows you are. Perfectly placed in between.

Easing a hand through your locks, letting them stream through his digits absently. Fingers of the other moving to turn the pages of the book placed upon your lap as he reads.

Most evenings spent in idle comfort; or when they’re not, Leonardo and le Comte endeavor to turn your space of three from pleasant warmth to aching fire.

The subject is broached the very first time it happens — more hurtled into the air on a soft breath, it is not something you should feel shame for; you remind yourself, again.

A hand curving around the shape of your waist, pressing in until you tip your head to let Leonardo’s mouth ghost across yours in a testing brush. Withdrawing on a shuddering breath, from how hard your heart bruises itself against your chest, just to feel that split of contact. You need a moment. Two.

Followed on heels by le Comte’s chastising whisper: “A show of abominable etiquette, Leonardo.”

Leonardo's chest rumbling with low laughter beneath fingers you fist tight into his shirt. “Hypocrite. Like I don’t see that look in your eyes, ‘Comte’.”

Their exchange makes you smile but anxiety flickers still at the back of your mind. This is something important you wish for them to know before the three of you work your relationship into further physical intimacy. They deserve as much; the truth.

And when you bring it up with an apology, a quick, quiet look is exchanged in between the two purebloods, as if a wordless conversation carried in between them, it makes your anxious heart flutter for a second — before le Comte’s smile steals it and makes it flutter for an entirely different reason.

They’re moving to gather you closer into their arms, a tight mesh of bodies, before they tell you it does not matter. That they love you. Le Comte’s gentle ‘thank you for trusting us’ pilfering your remaining shame entirely in between kisses upon your cheeks apiece, your forehead... your lips. Le Comte handles you as if you were precious treasure. As Leonardo’s soothing strokes across your scalp help temper that sweet ache of kisses.

Their kisses are slow, wonderful experiences and both of them are dedicated and content to the task of mapping your mouth with theirs.

Leonardo’s are the kind that settle with a quick press of lips against lips. Getting to feel you against him, before proceeding to kiss you, fingers skating across your back, your hips squeezing that stiffness out of you. Tongue following with a wet stripe left against your lips, leaving you to make a startled moan — he is hot and good — before his tongue slides greedy against yours. Sucking yours against his, until you’re breathless and trembling within his arms. Boneless.

When it is le Comte who moves to cherish you within his embrace, gently drawing you close; everything about the man speaking of patience, but his eyes; the sheer undoing desire in them could have you burn to ashes from how he tempers it for you, your pleasure.

Slow, delicate kisses that start across your ears, your cheekbones, down. The Comte prefers to have his chérie relax within his grip: a hand he curves underneath your chin to lift, the other entangling into your hair to press his mouth against yours. Not so relaxed however when you moan softly against him, he’s guiding your lips apart with his, natural as breathing, skilful tongue slipping against yours to give you a kiss worthy of expressing his affection.

The two of them love to hold you close, as much as you like, to let you feel the differences in your bodies and discover your boundaries step by step.

In their lap. Pressed up tight until your chests move against each other and there is nowhere to hide except against each other. Your hands in their hair, tugging in passionate frenzy. Upon their shoulders, gripping. Scrabbling to hold onto their backs when you’re pressed in between them both. Touch them in turn, they learn to read the unconscious signals of your body just as you learn in turn to feel, in their embrace.

For as long as you need to, testing and setting those boundaries until you are ready to be loved entirely.

In bed, when you decide to experience your first time together…

Arranging the perfect set-up… to have your lover go lax at the pleasure of being coddled in beauty before making them tense and tenser still with need when your hands touch them (at least the first few times you take them to bed), are the basics of good, stimulating sex every gentleman should be aware of. And le Comte is certainly a gentleman. Except for when he is not.

Bamboo fabric for sheets, the sweet spread of lavender as it permeates the room. Lanterns lit — or dimmed — as much to your liking. But they do insist — gently — on having you without a stitch of cloth, beneath them.

Two sets of praises warming the night as they leave them:

“You are beautiful, entirely. I feel as if I may seek you to my heart’s content and yet, never tire.” A kiss laid to the instep of your foot.

“Don’t think I’ve seen anything sexier in my life, cara.” Laying open-mouthed kisses against each part Leonardo praises out loud. “These breasts of yours.” Kiss. “This plump ass against my palms.” Kiss. “This eager pussy.”

“As weeping as ripe fruit.” Le Comte agrees, sinking into the space in between your legs. “And just as delectable.” To lay a kiss against your clit as well.

Bergamot oil rubbed to warmth in between elegant palms before they surround your breasts, heating it against your sensitive skin. Le Comte absolutely loves to be touching and admiring your body any chance he is blessed with and this is an opportunity for more; he wants you to be feeling so good and aroused, you moan soft and long (and scream later on, as loud as he can make you) — just as you do now — against Leonardo’s fingers rubbing into your mouth and against your skin.

The two men take stations on opposing sides of you, flipping positions all night long.

Fingers, mouths, working on you and into you for so long you’re left wrecked each time they move to slick you further against them.

Any time you move to stiffen, unconscious, against a touch foreign, they’re working to soothe it into pleasure, with bodies and words of praise — ample — for you tonight.

Surrendered to their care, they’d maneuver you well. Plenty of questions are asked—

“Does that feel good for you, ma bijou? Excellent, I admire you being so honest for us. I’ll do it as many times as you need me to.”

“You good so far? What’s this? Asking for another kiss? Come over here then, stellina.”

Taking them in turn, or at once; within whatever part of you, you want them in, you need only ask. They are going to make your first time all about you, pleasure neither gentle nor overwhelming, enough it leaves you with bone-deep satiety and limbs that refuse to move all of next day.

End Notes: Thank you for reading!

♧° Link to Master List °♡