Identity V Oneshots

A Beautiful Puppet Show - Hell Ember x Any!Reader (M4A Romance)

Alone, you sat on the abandoned cipher machine, head ringing. Those sirens were always so goddamned loud. After the abandoned factory you lived in turned into a killing game arena, you considered leaving, but the place gave you so many happy memories that you couldn't dare leave. Not to mention your beloved boyfriend was also forced to stay here. You could never leave him behind, so you were stuck too.

"Y/n," Grunted a heavy voice. You turned to find Leo Beck, the supposed monster who was sent to take care of the survivors. To you, he had never been a monster, not even with his now disfigured body. He was a gentle soul. He loved you, and you loved him, too.

"Hi Leo," You greeted, approaching with a smile, "Is everything okay? Did they get out?"

Leo didn't respond, not that you really expected him to. He rarely ever gave you information on how the game played out. He didn't like the people who took over the Orpheus Manor, and he didn't like the game they wanted him to play. You understood. He was once a beloved family man who took good care of his wife and daughter. Then, he was betrayed by his best friend, his wife and unborn child were killed by an incompetent doctor, his factory was set ablaze, and he lost his beloved Lisa to the orphanage.

"I understand," You hummed, petting his face softly. This was something you often did for him after a match. Despite being a burly and manly type of guy, he needed comfort, too. Before his captors could come back for him, you liked to take care of him and keep his humanity in tact a bit longer.

"Why don't you show me your puppets again, honey?" You asked, nuzzling against his shoulder, "I like it when you put on your shows for me."

Leo grunted again and nodded, leaning up and shuffling around to the front of the cipher machine. You grinned softly and watched as he started to set up his puppets. To others, they were extensions of his violence, wooden dolls made to catch unsuspecting survivors. To you, they were beautiful toys that he could entertain you with. It was one of the only things you could do at that old factory, after all. His puppet shows were your daily entertainment.

He had masterful control over the strings looping around his fingers. He could easily use both of his puppets at once and had brilliant control. He could make them do so many complex things. With them, he could tell stories, make comedy sketches, and perform intricate dances. You'd never seen a puppeteer as amazing as him, which was ironic, considering you used to work at a puppet show center before you lost your job. Today, Leo had a comedy sketch in store. He didn't talk much (he never did), but he conveyed humor through other means. Mainly cartoon violence. He made the puppets slip and slide and accidentally smack each other in their faces.

When the show was over, you slid off the cipher machine, clapping your hands together. "That was great, Leo," You whispered, wrapping your arms around him. He wrapped his arms around you, too, and smiled. You made him feel as safe as he made you feel.