Learning to Love (Corpse X Sykkuno)

Needed Comfort

(Hi guys! This is just a little warning that there is a violent scene in Corpse's dream. This next chapter has Corpse already sleeping with Sykkuno, but he's having a flashback dream. Corpse wakes up with a worried Sykkuno by his side. I hope you enjoy this chapter :) )

"Mom, where are you going? I'm scared," I cried out.
"Baby, I need you to stay in the closet. Can you do that for me?" Mom asked me.
"But... I'm scared of the dark."
"I know, I know. But mommy needs you to be a big boy," Mom urged. "There's going to be a man coming to the house soon. He's a bad man. No matter what happens, I need you to promise me to stay in your closet. Can you do that for me, Corpse?" Mom asked.
"I'm a big boy, Mommy. I can fight the bad man, I don't need to hide!" I exclaimed.

I didn't understand why mom started crying after I said that though. She gave me a big hug, the kind of hug that you never forget. She buried her head in my hair and held me tightly.
"I love you, Corpse. I love you so, so much. Thank you for always protecting me and saving me. You know, you're my superhero,"
Mom gushed.
"Of course Mommy! I'm like Batman," I giggled softly. Mom just smiled sadly at me.
"Thank you for protecting me, but I need you to stay here. You have to be like Batman. You have to stay in the dark and hide. I know it's scary, but remember, you're Batman and nothing scares you," Mom encouraged, while brushing her fingers through my hair.

Her fingers suddenly stopped. Her eyes began to widen and she quickly let go of me.
"Corpse, Mommy's gotta go right now. You just need to be a good boy and stay in the closet. Just like Batman! I love you, Corpse," Mom said.
"Where are you going, Mommy?" I asked.
"I'm going to be a superhero now! I know you're Batman, but you'll let me be a super hero, right?"Mom asked. I just nodded my head.

Mom gave me one last kiss on my forehead, whispered a final "I love you," and smiled at me. She was crying, but her smile was still so beautiful. She shut the closet doors and left me by myself. I heard her run down the stairs. I stayed in in the silence, trying to relax in it. Time ticked by slowly. All I could hear was the quiet rustling of my squirming. I didn't know why I was nervous, but I knew something was wrong.

A few minutes later, I heard shouting coming from downstairs. My mom's voice sounded panicked and scared. Another voice was also coming from downstairs. It was a man's voice. Mom told me to stay in the closet, but she sounded like she was in trouble! Batman would never leave someone to fend for themselves. So, I made the logical decision to check what was going on.

I opened the closet doors slowly, trying to prevent too much sound from escaping. Mom's voice got increasingly panicked as I was opening the doors, so I quickly ran towards the stairs once the closet opened. Mom NEEDED me. My feet ran on the floorboards and down the stairs. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.

Mom was pinned against the wall, a gloved hand wrapped around her throat, and a gun pointed against her head. The man holding her was dressed in all black. I couldn't move. My whole body was frozen. The man hadn't noticed my presence but my mom's frantic eyes saw me. A terrified expression filtered on her face and she tried clawing at the man's grip. I couldn't do anything as my mom struggled. I couldn't do anything as the guy cocked his gun. I couldn't do anything as he shot her.

"Corpse?" I heard. "Please wake up." Who was calling me? "Please come back. Oh god, Corpse please wake up," I heard a familiar voice plead. My eyes started to slowly flutter open. A small bit of moonlight filtered through the curtains on my left. It was still night, I realized. Sighing to myself, I covered my eyes with my arm and tried to calm my breathing. I shouldn't be getting worked up over a dream. In, and out. In, and out my brain kept repeating. I rolled onto my back to get in a more comfortable position. It was strange, but repeating that phrase actually calmed me down a bit. My arm left my face and I was not prepared to be faced with a teary eyed Sykkuno looking down at me. Am I dreaming? I quickly sat up, almost hitting Sykkuno in the process.

"Corpse!" Sykkuno exclaimed.
"Hey Sykkuno," my voice rasped out, throat constricting for some reason. My emotions were a mess and my body was still tense from that dream. My breaths were unsteady and eyes were unfocused as I tried to maintain eye contact with Sykkuno. The memories from that day were still fresh in my mind. As if sensing my uneasiness, Sykkuno tentatively wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his head on my shoulder.
"Is this okay?" Sykkuno asked. More than okay I thought, but I simply replied with a "yeah." He held me, chest to chest, trying to comfort me with his presence. It was working too because my body started relaxing against his.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sykkuno whispered, while rubbing his hand around my back reassuringly. It took a while to find my voice, my emotions were scattered.
"Not really," I croaked out.
"Okay, no problem. Corpse, I-uh, just want you to know that I'm here. I k-know I'm just kind've a stranger, but I'm always next door if you need anything."

Sykkuno, you're too nice I thought as I held him closer to me. I tilted my head into his neck and just breathed in his scent. He smelled like lavender.
"Just breathe, Corpse. You're doing a great job," Sykkuno encouraged softly. His fingers tracing circles on my back.

It was like Sykkuno was playing a melody with his hands. I could only fall deeper and deeper into a state of drowsiness as he kept playing his song. His right hand came up to gently stroke my hair and I couldn't help but close my eyes at the sensation. He kept caressing my curls and whispering quiet praises. I hadn't felt so relaxed in a long time. Only Sykkuno could do this. Only he could make me feel so... loved. His adoring eyes, hopeful smile, and gentle hands made me feel precious. It was like, I was actually worth something.

I felt tears falling onto Sykkuno's shirt at that realization. I needed Sykkuno.
"Please don't leave me, Sy," I begged. How pathetic is this? I thought. He already did so much for me, and yet I'm asking him to stay?
"Of course. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere," Sykkuno responded. "Let's get you in a more comfortable position though." Sykkuno detached from me and laid me down on my back gently. He brushed my hair out of my face and gave me a sweet smile. I could only lay there and stare.

"You're smiling now," Sykkuno pointed out. His smile only getting brighter.
"Because you're here," I immediately responded without thinking. As soon as I said that, a flush of embarrassment spread throughout Sykkuno's face and I couldn't help but feel my mood lift. Embarrassed Sykkuno always made me feel so giddy.

"Th-thank you?" Sykkuno questioned. A hand covered his mouth.
"No problem, cutie," I replied smoothly. His face only turned a darker shade of red.
"I think you should go to sleep now," Sykkuno blurted out, trying to change the topic.
"Okay."
"Well... Goodnight Corpse. I'm right here if you need me." Sykkuno rolled to his side of the bed and began settling in. I felt a tug in my heart to just, thank Sykkuno. He comforted me, despite the fact that he was the guest in my home. He comforted me despite my obvious unstable mental state. He at least deserved a thank you. I can do thank you's I thought.

"Sykkuno, I'm-m, I'm- just- thank you," I stuttered out stupidly. God, how do you screw up simple thank you's?! Sykkuno turned on his left side and gave me his signature smile.
"No problem, Corpse. I'm just happy I could help."
"But you're a guest. You shouldn't have to deal with my problems," I reasoned.
"Corpse, it's really not a burden. I promise you that I want to help. You're my friend now, so I care about you," Sykkuno said.
"You barely know me. How can you be so nice?" I asked.
"Because you cared enough about me to let me stay over. You're a nice person too, Corpse. Anyone who lets a potential serial killer in their home to help them, is a friend to me."

What did I do in my past life to deserve Sykkuno in my bed tonight?
"I don't know what to say, other than thank you. I-I was having a really bad dream, so-so thank you for being here for me," I said sincerely. Sykkuno gave me another reassuring smile and reached for my hand. He gave me a "Is this okay?" look. I immediately gave him my hand as a response to his silent question. He interlocked our hands and I felt a spark when our fingers intertwined together.

"I hope I can protect you from those bad dreams, Corpse," Sykkuno said as he squeezed my hand.
"You already did," I responded, with my mouth turned up in a smile.  My body relaxed into the bed and I felt light as I drifted off to sleep.

I knew I would have a nice sleep, now that Sykkuno was here to protect me.