Forgive Me, My Love ~ ReddNook

Chapter 57

Redd was back in Te Fiti by noon. He stumbled home slowly and felt drained, completely powerless. Like an empty shell. Redd thought he'd been through it all, but there was something else.

Horror passed through his fur like an electric shock. Tom ... Oh God ... His father won't torture him anymore - at least he hoped so. But now he had to face his greatest fear at all. He had to face Tom, endure the pain in his eyes and admit, that he had broken his heart again.

Redd's steps grew faster. Maybe he hasn't noticed anything yet. He started to run. Maybe I'll have the opportunity to make it up somehow ... and ... and ...

"Redd."

The fox stopped. Every muscle in his body was paralyzed. He heard steps behind him slowly approaching. Redd didn't dare to turn around, he couldn't look him in the eye.

Still, he did because he had no other choice. This time he wouldn't run away. He looked anxiously into Tom's face. The tanuki stood across from him and stared back in silence. Redd couldn't read his expression.

Was he mad? Sad? Disappointed? Confused? Or maybe all together? He did not know. "I want an explanation from you," Tom began. "And don't you dare lie to me." Redd couldn't utter a word. As if he had forgotten how to speak.

"What were you doing in Bellington?" The fox had to avoided his gaze. "I ... I can't tell you," he croaked. "Tom ... I'm-"
"You can't tell me?" Tom repeated with raised eyebrows.

"What the hell, Redd ?!" Redd backed away with flattened ears. The sudden outburst of anger was unexpected for him. "Was it you, who stole 500,000 bells from me ?!" the Tanuki roared. "Did you do this?!"

Redd ducked, surrendering like prey. "Y-yes ..." he stammered. "I stole your money!"
"Why?!" The fox hesitated again. "I can't tell you anything about it! It's ... so ... so complicated!" Tom silently shook his head and stared at him with narrowed eyes. "You know what? I don't want to know. You've probably used the money for your own purposes again!"

Redd was stunned. No! I would never do that! He couldn't get those words out loud. Desperate, he raised his head and said instead: "I will pay you back every single bell. I promise!"

Tom put his ears back. "This is not about the fucking money!" He yelled. "This is about trust! I trusted you, you bloody bastard!" His eyes blazed with anger. "I thought you had changed! But you took advantage of me again, lied and hurt me!"

Tom eyed Redd scornful. "Do you enjoy hurting me, hm?" The pain in his voice couldn't be misheard. "Tom, listen, I'm so sorry!" Redd whimpered. "Everything is not what you think it is. You have to believe me!"

The tanuki gave a half-hearted laugh. "I should believe you? Never again, Redd." he hissed. "Sable was right. It was wrong to trust you again. I should have listened to her from the start."

He lashed his tail in frustration. "How naive I was!" His eyes narrowed to slits. "I knew something was wrong with you lately. So that's what you planned behind my back! How dare you ?!"

Redd pressed his paws against his head. "No, no, it's ... everything ... ve-very different!" He gasped, trembling. "You don't understand this."

"Then explain it to me!"
"I can't!" The fox shouted. " I just can't!" Tears ran down his cheeks.

Sobbing, he buried his face in his hands. "I ... I didn't... wa-want ... to h-hurt you!" He stuttered. "I love you! I would never hurt you on purpose!" Tom was silent, looking down as if considering Redd's words.

"Please forgive me," the fox pleaded. "I'm so sorry for everything!" The tanuki sighed. "Stop it," he muttered. "I don't want to hear any more about it."
"Tom, please!" Redd grabbed his shoulders. "You just have to believe me!"

"Paws off!" Tom yelled, slapping him hard in the face. Redd jumped back, whimpering, as the sharp claws brushed his cheek. The lashing hit left four, thin lines from which blood oozed.

Tom fixed him with a fiery look. His fur was bristled. Redd stood there petrified and stared speechless at his former boyfriend. "I've had enough," Tom hissed. "It's over. Over for good." Redd's eyes widened in shock.
He felt dizzy.

"No ..." he croaked. "You had your chance," the Tanuki continued. "That was the last one." The salty tears stung in the open wound. "Please don't!" The fox yelped in despair. "Please don't leave me! I need you so much!"

Tom took a step back. "I never want to see you again" he growled icily. I don't want to lose you! Not again! The words got stuck in Redd's throat. He had no more strength. He fell limp on his knees and had to watch as Tom turned his back on him and moved further and further away from him.

"No ..." he whimpered weakly. "No, no, no, no, no!" His whole body trembled with panic. Where are you going? Come back! Sobbing, he buried his face in the cool grass and howled all the pain out.

"Tom!" He screamed. "Come back! Please come back!"
It hurts so much ... The tears kept flowing. The pain grew more intense. Why doesn't this pain stop? He gritted his teeth. Let it stop! Redd wanted to get up but couldn't.

The fox crouched like a pile of misery in the grass, his face tearful and bloodied. And a broken heart. That's it now. I lost him. Forever.

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Omg.
What have i done...;-;
Reddnook is dead.
If you made it until here - you tough, man.