𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐧

✧[048]✧

The days following were nothing short of work. You barely had a moment to yourself, Vil made sure of it. There wasn't a moment you weren't in practice and when you weren't practicing, you were sleeping out of exhaustion. The only good thing that had come out of it was a gift from Crowley: Tickets to attend the SDC.

Despite being tired, you could only feel anxious as the days slowly closed in on you. The time to perform was coming up soon, very soon. You couldn't help but want to seclude some time to yourself. Despite the fact you were tired.

"Straighten your posture!"

"You aren't hitting the note properly."

"Quit mumbling. Mumbling makes you sound muddy and muddy isn't stage ready."

"It isn't that hard to dance AND sing. Yes, I know you have bad cardio, but it's my job to chop you into... Something of a presentable shape."

"A few hours of overtime shouldn't hurt, Crinkle Cut."

You couldn't help but hear the voice of Vil ringing in your ears, you shuttered at the sound of it. Of course, Vil was nice and all but lately he has turned so sickening overbearing. You need to practice, apparently. Don't eat that, eat this. Sleep at this time. Wherever you're going, I'm coming with you. He was like a mosquito, constant buzzing around you, biting at any imperfection like it was sweet succulent blood.

He had been controlling every aspect of your life. Not only you but Ace, Deuce, and Epel weren't let free from his rein either. You yawned, staring out the window, the few tickets to the fair lingering in the palms of your hands as you stared and pondered. You shoved them in your pockets and moved on. You wanted to see Malleus, dreadfully so.

Watching little fireflies blink and disappear from sight made you smile, watching one skitter across the window lighting up and then returning to normal. Cute little bugs that had beckoned you to go outside. Only thing is you didn't want to step out without at least telling someone. You weren't ready for another Vil scolding... Plus, he had set you a curfew.

"You shouldn't linger at the window for to long, mon lapin. Vil would be angered... Curfew is an important thing to follow with him. If you wish to run along however, I'll keep quiet."

The hushed voice of Rook said, almost in a whisper, he leaned his head into the crook of your neck, you felt your muscles tighten at the sudden intimate contact,"Go on, run along to roi du dragon"

He slipped away before you could respond. You hadn't noticed his lingering gaze, such a loving one. Yet, it felt like fire on your skin, burning you like sin. You slipped out not wanting to bother feel it any longer. For the thoughts in Rook's head were a mystery to you. You hadn't noticed how he had a heated face, dazed in admiration as he looked at you.

The firefly on the window disappeared, almost in silence disapproval towards the face of Rook. Rook pursed his lips, making haste to walk to a different window to keep an eye on you. A reflex really, he hadn't even thought about what he was doing.

Despite Rooks weirdness, you found yourself quickly running along to leave, following the subtle trail of fireflies that hummed in amusement to your excitement, you cupped your hands around one flying low, feeling it crawl throughout the palms of your hands.

Then you saw him. He wasn't ever slick, no. Not in the slightest. You had always known that Malleus began to linger here because he wished to speak with you, or Yuuka. Who was busy sleeping as of late and talking about some odd mouse she keeps seeing.

You opened your palms once you saw him, the firefly buzzing out of them and landing on Malleus shoulder as if he was whispering in his ear if your presence. Malleus turned about with a smile, amused you still choose to approach him despite all this time. Even after knowing his true name, you hadn't a clue who he was.

"Good evening, a pleasant evening, no?"

"Mhm..." You hummed back, feeling an odd tingle down your spine as if you were being watched by another pair of eyes. You glanced towards Ramshackle briefly before turning towards Malleus.

"Hey Lizzy, I have something for you?"

He did too. A two thousand word essay of written poetic apology. He, however, held off on handing it to you. You motioned for him to open his hands, the gentle grasp of your own grabbing his, his heart beat picked up as he glanced back between you and your hands. How dare you. Being so charming and intimate with him.

You placed the tickets in the palms of his hands, he felt like glass was touching him. Your hands were so small in comparison, you closed his hands, securely holding the tickets in place, "How would you like to attend the SDC with your friends? You know, with lilia and what not?"

"Are these...tickets to the show they're putting on at this year's culture fair?
Are you actually inviting me?" He went silent for a moment, staring at the tickets before erupting in laughter for what seemed like the first time, "Ha ha ha! You truly have no fear at all. Very well. I shall accept your gracious invitation."

"Really!? Great! I would love to see you there..."

"Ah, child of man. That fearlessness is admirable. I do have one question however. Will you be in the show?" He looked up at you with a gaze that caught your heart in your throat, his smile so subtle yet alluring. Only issue was it was a pain in the neck to look up at him.

"Ah... Yeah. I will be." You murmured, scratching at your wrist, the thought of the amount of people that'd see you on stage made you increasingly uncomfortable.

"I look forward to seeing your performance. Don't disappoint."

"I... I'll try."

"Mmm, I trust you will. Also, I have something for you as well. Before I depart, I'd like you to take this." A white box was presented to you, wrapped in green ribbon. You smiled at it, you had a feeling you already knew what it was.

"Crinkle Cut! Where are you?"

You heard Vil shout in the distance, for now, you choose to ignore it. Peeling away at the ribbon to find two things. An essay? Apparently. Something you had to read at a later date and a mask. You ran your fingers over it's auburn color, it was a fox. Not a rabbit, no. Rather then prey, it was a predator.

You smoothed your fingers over the parts that felt like real fur, you wanted to wear it, really, you did. But you hadn't the time.

"Crinkle Cut? What are you doing out here?"

"Oh! I'm with... Lizzy?" You looked up to see him gone without a trace, leaving behind little fireflies that danced through the night.

"It's late. Get to bed now. We have a big day tomorrow after all." You only hummed in response, not paying really attention to the words he was saying only choosing to stare at the contents of the box as a beckoning stare made you trail after them, slipping into the Ramshackle dorm leaving all words spoken to Malleus like words spoken to the wind.

"I wish... We'll I'm not sure... What do I wish for? After all, I spend all my time listening to others... I feel like I've hardly asked myself. What do I want?"