Crimson Eyes || Curtis x Reader

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     He puts you down. The ram beastmen seem to have gotten the rice out within a reasonable time. Two large bags of what you assume to be rice are presented before you. "Here you are,". No thanks, no acknowledgment, Curtis grabs the bags & motions for you to walk with him, to which you oblige.

You query, "Should we really be dragging this along with us..?"
"Can't the bags rip..?"

With a scoff, he places both bags over a single shoulder. He turns & lowers himself to your height, "Better..?"

"Maybe... Won't you be strained..?"

"If I had a body of yours, maybe. But I am not weak."

     You knew not to take it as an insult, but you couldn't help it. Weak, frail body with a pretty face. You knew he was interested in you; he made that obvious. But was it just for your looks..? Which you didn't even like yourself..? These thoughts don't matter, right..? I mean, you do have a boyfriend, let's not forget.

     Still, you can't help but imagine that it indeed matters. 

"Hey, should we just find a new source of shelter instead of just walking forever..?"
"I have no clue where my home is.."

"How have you not..?"

     You think for a moment. How have you not. Why don't you know where home is..

     Tears well up in your eyes. Your breathing goes uneven & heavy; "I don't know,". Your almost crying becomes full on sobbing. Where are you. You want your mom, your dad, your brother. You just want to be home. Why aren't you home..? How did you get here..? This wasn't like the books at all. You hope, you just hope that this is a dream.

     You hear a loud thud, looking up you see a blur of brown through your tears. It was the rice bags. A feeling of embrace surrounds you. The red-eyed man's voice is soft & comforting. 
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"Let me make it better,"

     You didn't know how to feel. You were so distraught, so broken. You hated this man. You think you hate this man. Why was he the one to be here, why was he the one close to you, why is he who you're with.

"Make it better.!?"
"Better.!?"
"How will *you* make it better..?"
"You're just some guy who happens to have a snake tail *who will not leave me alone*..!"
"I want to go home, I want to be with *my* *family*.!?"

     It's obvious he has no clue how to react to your feelings. The only emotion he seems to portray in this moment is sympathy. He doesn't know how you feel because he's never had a family & probably didn't care at that. How many "human" interactions has this beastman ever had..?

     Before you know it 10 minutes of your crying passes, a result of such is you calming down. Curtis is still on the ground with you, perplexed. You can't help but feel horrible for your words to him. Maybe he deserved it, but mostly not; he's brought you no harm. 

     Through light crying you get your thought out, "I'm sorry," "Curtis, I'm sorry,"
You return the embrace he's been giving you the entire time. It felt good, comforting. But you didn't want to like it. You wipe your face fast & jolt up:

"Anyway,"

"Are there any beaches nearby.!?"

"You want to go to a beach now..?"

"Yes.!?"
"The days have been a little mundane, hm..?"
"I think a beach day would be fun for us. Get my mind off all... that(referring to your breakdown)"
"Can you swim..?"

"I swim well."
"We'll go to the beach then,"

"AHAA, really.!?"

     You haven't been to the beach, or *a* beach, in years. If he was really taking you to a beach it would be a basically new experience.

"Can *you* swim..?"

You look up at him, "Uhm, I can try."
"Is the rice heavy..?"
You bite your lip, "It looks like a lot, will your back be alright..?"

"I told you already, I'll be fine. Don't worry for me."

     Step after step, you don't know why you asked about a beach. It had to have passed at least 4 hours. He could have been reading your thoughts with his sudden voice breaking the silence, "We are almost there, should I carry you..?"

     You think for a second. *Should* he carry you..? I mean, the second you get to the sand, you know you'll collapse. But he has no way of carrying you with the rice he has.

"Uh, yes please." 

     With his free hand, he picks you up by the waist & carries you underhand on his side. Like a complimentary dog. The feeling is different from when he carried you last. Your face gets hotter & your stomach churns. His touch gets you flustered. Like you have a crush. You didn't feel this before for him..? But, oh. Spending your every minute of the last 3 days with him might get you to change your mind. 

You can't.!? You can't like him. You have to get home.

     Before you know it, you gain your consciousness & your face is met with moving water. The sudden sight makes you jerk, causing the scaled man to drop you. You land face-first into salty water & soft sand. You pick yourself up laughing, holding Curtis' now leg. 

"Is your skin water resistant? This is really cool.!?"

     You swim continuously, you grab Curtis & pull him in with you. To your surprise, he lets you. A huge splash is caused by the weight of both your bodies crashing into the water. You turn around to face him under you. He has his tail. He looks so majestic. Practically glowing. You've never seen him more gorgeous. 

     Before you can look any longer, he disappears. His swimming is incredibly fast. You can't see him anymore, he swam too fast. You swim up to the surface, looking around for him to appear. But you're met with the faint outline of another woman. You can see her swimming towards you as her face becomes more clear. She's fast. Is she a mermaid..?

     Soon you're almost face to face. Her beautiful blue hair matches her eyes, her skin is incredibly clear besides a beauty mark she dons. She wears red hoop earrings.

"Wow, you're beautiful," 
"Are you a beast woman..?"

"Woman.!?" A deep voice replies

"You're a man.!?!?"
"I'm so sorry, that was so rude."
You look down at him, he's muscular & has a fish tail.

"You're apart of the mermaid clan..?"

"Are you Qin..?"
"With your beauty, you must be. Our king will be so happy."

"Qin..? King..?"
"What are you talking about..? I feel like you should give me your name before you start talking crazy,"

     You look around, looking for Curtis again. You see his silhouette swimming towards the both of you fast. You raise your hand up & smile wide, about to greet him again. But you're pushed under. You couldn't even breath before hand. You close your eyes, you feel yourself moving fast & deeper & deeper into the water. 

What the actual fuck.!?