𝔅𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 | Reader x Saja Boys

~6~

Waking up in the middle of the night is always odd. There's the brief moment of waiting for consciousness to fully set in before you hate everything.

But tonight, you feel like something is missing. Not just like there's something you forgot to do, but like something is deeply wrong with the world. Something is aching inside you for something you don't even know.

You swing your legs over the side of the bed, sliding out and to your bedroom door. You push it open and pad down the halls. It's still an eerie purple that you have no explanation for, other than it 'reminds them of home.'

You wrap your arms around yourself, finding yourself in the living room. It's empty and you feel disappointed at that.

Were you looking for them? Are the Saja Boys what you were searching for?

You turn around and go back up the hall. You find one of their rooms, and hover outside it. You hate yourself for it, but you raise your fist to knock.

The door cracks open at your touch, revealing the room inside. You peer into it and see a room without a bed, furnished with a single potted plant. Its green leaves stretch up to the roof painted to look like a sky

"Can't sleep?"

You turn to see Romance standing, tinted lights casting purple shadows over his face. He smiles gently, setting you more at ease.

"No," you answer as he reaches past you and shuts the door. "Romance?"

He hums, tilting his head. "Yes?"

"Whose room is that?" You gestured to the closed door, watching the flicker of emotions across his face. 

"That's Abs' room." Romance runs a hand through his hair, forehead creasing. He blows out a heavy sigh and offers you a half-hearted grin. "We've forgotten what it's like to... be human. He likes having something to care for."

You take a moment to process that, swallowing thickly. "Um, what happened at the show? My brain is kinda fuzzy."

"Oh, you passed out. Maybe it was the heat?" Romance suggests lightly. He pauses before holding out a hand. "I know physical contact is a no... But just this once?"

You stare at his offered hand before slowly clasping it with your own. You don't know why. Maybe it's your touch starvation again. "Just this once."

"Let's get you back to bed, okay?" Romance gently guides you back to your own room, releasing his hold on you after a final squeeze. "Good night, babe."

"No."

"Sweetheart?"

"No."

"Pookie."

"Absolutely not."

Romance sighs and steps away. "Oh well, you can't blame me for trying. Sweet dreams."

You hesitate, fingers wrapped around the doorknob. You've been alone for so along, overworking yourself and pushing yourself so hard.

"Can you stay?" you blurt out before you can stop yourself. You wince and shake your head. "Never mind."

Romance nods, taking you by surprise. "No, I can stay. Do you want me standing by the door, or..."

You lick your lips and hate yourself for this moment. This is weakness. But you still say, "In the bed. If you want, that is."

Romance wordlessly follows you into your room, shutting the door behind him. He waits for you to crawl into the bed and claim your side before he climbs in beside you. You lie there in silence together before Romance rolls over, propping himself up on his elbow. 

"Are we still doing the no touching thing?" he questions, hair falling into his face. You resist the urge to brush it away and tuck it behind his ear.

"We can-" You take a deep breath. "We can cuddle."

Romance shifts closer, curling an arm around your waist. He pulls you flush to him and slots a leg between yours.

You immediately grow drowsy and let your head rest on the pillows. He's warm, but the silk sheets stop it from growing hot beneath the covers. It's just the right combination to put you to sleep.

"You're pretty," Romance murmurs, stroking your hair. You let out a sleepy little hum in response  to his words, too out of it for the meaning to really click. "So... Pretty..."

You're rolled onto your back, Romance pinning you down beneath him. His thighs are on either side of your waist as he stares down at you with a hungry gaze.

"R- Romance?" you whisper in confusion. "Romance, what are you doing?"

"Just a little bit?" Romance gasps out, strange purple markings appearing on his skin. They creep up, starting at his chest and snaking up his neck and across his arms. "Just- Just a little taste? I won't even take all of it..."

"All of what?" you demand, trying to get away. But his weight is effective in keeping you in place. "Romance!"

"Your soul would be delicious," Romance croons, trailing his fingers from your abdomen up to your mouth. He presses his thumb against your lips, toying with you for a moment before he bares his teeth. "You'd let me eat you, right?"

True panic begins to hit you. You buck your hips up to push him off, letting out screams to alert the others. Romance has obviously gone insane, and someone needs to deal with him.

"No," Romance snarls, grabbing your wrists and pushing them against the mattress. "No, no, no! They won't understand! They won't understand how long I've hungered..."

"Get off of me!" you yell, raising your voice. "Romance-"

He clamps a hand over your mouth, shushing you. "Sh, darling, it's okay. It won't even hurt. Just a little song, and then-"

The door slams against the door as the others barge into the room. Jinu is at the lead with a furious expression.

"Romance," Jinu lowly says, flicking his wrists out. Baby, Abs, and Mystery all fan around the bed in perfect synchronization. "You don't want to do this. If you let her go, she can set up more events for us. Imagine all the souls that will be there, in such easy access."

Romance's grip on you loosens, and you take your chance to slip away. You shove him off of you and lunge to the side, just in time to see markings flickers across Jinu's skin. They're also a purple colour, almost lilac in the dim lighting.

"What are you?" you breathe out, half in amazement, half in horror.

Baby smiles, revealing pointed fangs. "Demons."