Reverie [The Distortionist x reader]

Chapter 29

(Art by Spider-Lucius on DeviantArt)

TRIGGER WARNING: sexual innuendos

Oh, it's sickening, it's sickening

You know, it's unfair, it's unfair

-----*-----

"[Y/N]," Henry firmly says. "Pierre has disappeared from his cell."

That's all that's needed for you to slowly turn your head to him. You're reading a leftover copy of The Mara Press's newest release on the sofa, so you turn back to it and flip through the pages. Sure enough, one of the articles is about Chris's escape. Henry must've read it before you and put two and two together.

"Goddammit," you breathe, putting your hands over your face. The hallucinations are coming again. They always do when you're stressed out and near Henry. Double the reason, double the chance. Right now, there's just some spiky tendrils emerging from his back, ready to curl around you and burrow into your skin. So you take another savory pebble into your mouth.

Henry sighs. "Pierre did this to you," he reminds. "I will never make the mistake of giving him leniency again. This is how he's left you - hallucinating, needy for him and pathetic."

"Like you're one to talk," you murmur. "A couple years ago, you were really, really depressed to the point in which you were begging me to let you in."

"You see, I've gotten better, no thanks to you," he says coldly. "And I'm not going to make the mistake of trusting you and wanting to know you again. Not after what you just did."

"What did I just do again...?" You genuinely forgot.

He sighs. "Helping my wife's murderer escape- Ah, never mind, [Y/N]. You don't care one bit for me. I think that's been made clear."

"I used to really, really care for you," you say. "But now... You've tried your best to make me go down. To make me not see who I want to see."

"Don't you see, [Y/N]? I'm genuinely just trying to help you. Christopher Pierre is turning us against each other, and it's really, really working. I can't let that happen, so I'm going to continue taking care of you, despite my personal feelings."

"I don't need your care."

"Actually, you do. I'm the one earning money for all of us. You'd be on the street without me."

This indignates you. "This is my house! I can put you out if I want!"

"I'm the one paying for every expense. If you put me out, you're fucked. But this doesn't matter. All of this doesn't matter. You're going to do what you want and I see that now. For my own sake, I'm putting some emotional distance between us. Do whatever. I don't care." With that punctuating your interlocution, he leaves.

You lean your head back onto the backrest of the sofa. Before you can do anything, you get an intrusive thought from someone specific. So he knows, huh?

I don't think there was any way to hide this fact, you respond.

It's fine, I understand. But I'm hungry. Once the coast is clear, could you bring me some food?

Sure.

-----*-----

You're watching over Chris as he eats. There's a permanent smile on his lips as he tastes the canned corn. "This is so much better than what I've been eating for these past years," he compliments, mouth full.