Milo x Oz One-shots (Request's are always open)

- Mortals and otherwise -

Summary: Being the embodiment of fear is rough. Oz never really liked himself when it came to the role he was forced to play. However, that changed when they met a certain grim reaper who helped him see his real identity.

A/N: This one-shot was inspired by Reanimatorjuice's Time is On Our Side over on Ao3, so if you enjoy this I recommend checking them out!

TW: Death, Bullying, Trauma, and losing your sense of self. If any of these topic's trigger you, don't feel pressured to read this story.

Ever since the beginning of time, there was fear. If you looked carefully, you could see it always limping behind you; always watching and waiting for the right time to rear its ugly head. Or at least that's how the legends and cave drawings painted it out to be.

In all honesty fear was created by mortals, and he didn't like his job anymore than they did. Instead of creeping around every corner, Fear simply just watched people live their lives, watching the ups and downs that came with being a mortal. He would join the mortals in the game that is life, however they feared him.

They feared because they didn't know how to classify him. They feared because they're not used to someone like him. They feared because they didn't know what else to do, and the lonely boy had no other choice but to become the things they fear.

He never wanted this, who would ever choose such a fate? Who would find joy in being feared by humans and demons alike? He's not seen as someone to respect, never mind tolerate. So while the grim reapers help lost souls to their afterlife and fortune tellers predict dangerous events and save thousands of people, Fear simply does his job and leaves.

Some people see him shuffle through empty fields and avert their eyes, not wanting to draw his attention. Others point at him and warn their towns, and the really brave one's confront him. Most tried to kill him so he couldn't be a burden towards mortals, he had no problem scaring those fools to the point of insanity.

Fear couldn't help but think that proved their points. After being told his whole life that he caused problems, that he represented the worst parts of mortal kind, that he shouldn't even be in this world; he couldn't help but believe those words.

So he ran, trying to avoid mortals at all costs. Maybe if he was never seen again, mortals could see him for what he was: a scared, lonely child.

Fear hasn't seen a mortal in years now, he traveled and hidden in mountains and creeks. He was invisible, or at least he felt the part.

He was sitting on a rock near the river while looking at his phobias in the streaming water, making a slight face of disgust while doing so. Then he felt it, an arrow piercing through the 'skin' of his arm.

His head turned immediately to find a loaded crossbow and a broken, thin mortal meeting his eyes. His posture stiffened while slowly getting up from the rock, holding his wounded arm.

"W-what do you want from me?" Fear asked and the person stayed silent, still holding their crossbow in a firm grip. Their eyes looked older than their body, like they've seen years of trauma untold to the world.

"You ruined my life!" They announced and Fear's eyes widened at their anger.

"Because of you, my village was stuck in paranoia over their own survival. Because of you my little sister wasn't able to live the life she wanted. Because of you," They pause, showing an emotion that mortals specialized in, regret. "I ran away from home."

Fear looked at them, never going to understand the pain they went through. However, Fear did understand that every single thing that went wrong in this kid's life, they blamed it on him. Everyone always did.