Chapter 10 of TPiaG: Body Swap AU
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@sincerely-sofie We made it to the double digits! Thank you so much for all your encouragement and nice words! It's what has kept me continuing with this story, despite the first chapter just kinda being a one off thing! I look forward to continuing it!
Dusknoir makes breakfast
"Do not ever forget that." Dusknoir uttered.
Even though he can't see his face, the light from the tail flame let him know exactly how Darkrai felt.
He let go of him, dropping him on the couch.
Dusknoir silently picked up the book he'd been learning Braille with and entered into his room. Quietly shutting the door, so as to not wake Celebi.
Dusknoir stood in front of his door for several moments before quietly slumping against it. His hands were shaking harder than he ever thought possible.
It wasn't her.
It's not her anymore.
That's Darkrai. Not Twig.
You didn't hurt Twig again.
That's not what Twig looks like anymore.
Dusknoir slowly breathed in and out.
He couldn't see Darkrai's face clearly. Even while so close to him.
But even if he looked like a painting had been left out in the rain before it could dry...
He still knew that look. It showed itself clearly in his mind despite his impaired vision.
He regretted intimidating him immediately
And it wasnt because he looked like her.
It was that expression of terror.
He felt he deserved it.
He tortured him and so many others for so long.
But the way his body completely froze when he grabbed him.
The same way that Twig did...
...
Dusknoir remembered how scared and vulnerable he felt whenever he was around Dialga.
He can't help but feel like he's not too different from how he acted.
Dusknoir wanted to apologize. And he didn't want to.
Dusknoir mustered the courage to peek out his door.
Darkrai had already left.
Dusknoir hesitated before he slunk back into his room.
He closed his door, and laid down in his bed.
Dusknoir quickly fell asleep. His thoughts swirled in spirals, chasing each other as he contemplated both throwing Darkrai out into the street, and begging for forgiveness.
~~
Dusknoir awoke before anyone else in the home.
His stomach growled in hunger.
That reminded him of how he heard Darkrai open and shut the pantry last night. Not having eaten anything.
Dusknoir felt... Well, it wasn't pity. Nor was it any kind of compassion. He thinks. He just remembers how difficult it was to have a full stomach so many years ago.
Dusknoir sighed as he rose from his bed. If he was going to feed Celebi and Grovyle, he might as well feed him too.
~
It took much longer than Dusknoir would ever admit to manage to create a rudimentary stir fry. He had to sample several berries to ensure that he was still putting in Rawst berries instead of Yache (Why did they even buy those?). It was only after he garnished them that he'd realized that he'd forgotten to check if those were walnuts and not cashews. And he prayed that the vegetables he cooked were a darker color because of the heat and not because he burned them.
The fact that he couldn't read the recipe book made it worse. He'd practically eaten two small portions by the time he'd finished. Constantly tasting it to make sure it wasn't worse than Celebi's 'cooking'.
Blast this darn eye, if only Kip hadn't-
Dusknoir's fist tightened. He struck down the thought instantly.
It was his fault that his vision was screwed up the way it was.
Not Kip's.
Kip didn't do anything wrong to him.
Not back then, and not now.
...
Dusknoir sighed as he looked out the window.
It was long past dawn.
Dusknoir quietly opened Celebi's door. The room dark after having a wardrobe pushed to sit in front of the window.
"Celebi?" Dusknoir asked. He was afraid he'd squish her if he felt around to find her. It was impossible to see in here.
"Mmgh..." She sleepily growled.
Dusknoir told her that he had made breakfast, but that he needed help.
Celebi eventually obliged, after he promised to let her sleep the rest of the day.
Dusknoir approached Darkrai's door, his plate of food held in one hand.
Celebi looked pretty upset that he'd asked her to unlock the door.
"Why dont you just break the lock?" She asked.
Dusknoir glanced away from her.
"I... I dont believe Twig would appreciate having more of her home destroyed during our stay."
That was a partial reason.
He was still scared of Darkrai.
He feared that opening the door would lead to the Legend that he had carried to the hospital just a week prior.
And given what he said last night...
Celebi quietly unlocked the door with a small screwdriver that was kept atop the doorframe. Putting it in the hole on this side and mumbling grumpily as she fiddled with it.
The door opened and it was just Darkrai. Still in Twig's body...
He had the blanket from last night draped over his back. His neck lay on top of the second blanket. Facing the door.
Dusknoir felt a pang of guilt run through him.
He set the plate of food on the floor and left.
Dusknoir gave Celebi her portion, and she sat down at the table to eat as Dusknoir prepared Grovyle's portion.
Even if he had to squint to think he knows what Celebi's expression was, the fact that she wasn't humming a tune or complimenting his cooking told him all he needed to know.
"Are you okay Celebi?" He asked, lowering himself to sit on the ground across from her.
Celebi's head turned away from her food. He thinks she's glaring at the ground.
"I'm fine." She growled.
Dusknoir steeled his expression.
"No you're not." He replied. He saw Celebi's head turn back towards him.
"Please, Celebi. I'm worried. Tell me how I can-"
Celebi interrupted him with an exasperated sigh.
"Look, I appreciate that you want to help. But I'm not in the mood for a lecture right now. So can you just leave me alone please?" Celebi voiced.
Dusknoir watched her as she ate the rest of her food.
Celebi rose from her seat after taking her last bite.
"Thanks for the food. It was delicious." She mumbled, her tone not indicating much one way or the other.
Celebi fluttered from her seat, back into her room and shut the door. Leaving Dusknoir alone.
Dusknoir sighed as he collected her dishes and put them in the sink.
He took Grovyle's plate and entered into the room he was staying in.
"Grovyle. I... I made breakfast."
Dusknoir sat down next to him, holding his plate.
"Thanks." He mumbled, as he started to sit up.
Dusknoir moved a hand and held it over his chest.
"I won't allow you to put yourself in more pain."
Grovyle laid back down, took a deep breath and sighed.
"Stop that. I know that hurts you."
Dusknoir took the fork on his plate and started feeding him.
It was almost comical. The hitman that hunted him for years feeding him like he's a toddler.
Dusknoir would have laughed if the circumstances were different.
Dusknoir eventually cleaned off Grovyle's plate.
"How was it?" He asked.
Grovyle swallowed the last bite.
"Good." He replied.
Dusknoir rose from his seating position.
"Is there anything else I can-"
"No." Grovyle interrupted.
Dusknoir looked at him with worry before sighing.
"Alright."
He left the room, gently shutting Grovyle's door.
Dusknoir returned to the kitchen and put the dishes away.
He propped his elbows on the counter and leaned forward. Holding his head in his hands.
He wanted to help.
He wanted to make up for what he's done to them.
He's trying so hard.
But how on earth do you help someone that doesn't want help?
Dusknoir sighed deeply as he put the final portions of breakfast into a container.
He needed to clear his head.
He needed to go for a walk, get some fresh air.
He might as well feed Kip and visit Twig.
Dusknoir silently left the home and started traveling to the Verdant Village hospital.
He glanced around occasionally.
His heart ached as he tried to see the beauty around him, but it was all blurred. His vision fell to the ground in front of him.
Tears stung in his eye as he forced his thoughts to not enter an awful mindset.
He is going to make things right.
He's going to tell Kip again, that what he forgives him for what he did.
He will tell him that as many times it takes to be believed.
And he'll tell him as many times as it takes for him to believe that as well.
"Aw shoot." Dusknoir heard someone mutter in front of him.
He looked up and his heart lept in his chest. Even while blurry he would recognize her.
"Twig?" He asked, his voice shaking.
The figure's head shot upwards, her piercing blue eyes, prominent enough to be clear compared to everything else.
"D-Dusknoir?" She asked, her voice shaking as well.
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