The Blade in the Stars (Swiss x Female OC)

16: Panic Room

Fenris's POV:

I had fallen asleep at some point, which I only figured out due to the insistent shaking that woke me up. I felt strong, desperate hands gripping me as Sodo's familiar voice whispered, "Fenris, get up!" I couldn't quite tell what tone he was using due to my drowsy state, but what I did know was that I was annoyed.

"Go away," I hissed.

He stopped shaking me and continued saying, "Quick, I need your help." His words, along with the now identifiable desperation in his voice, was slightly amusing.

I let a small smile form on my lips as I murmured, "You do?" I opened my eyes just barely, and any amount of humor I had previously instantly left me. Sodo appeared to be genuinely concerned, and quickly I shared the same feeling, whatever may have happened. "What is it?"

     At that, the ghoul pulled me hastily out of the chair while whispering, "It's Swiss, he's hysterical." It took me a bit to translate what he was saying to my brain as I tried to gain my footing. I wondered for a moment why Sodo had gotten me for assistance, but when we passed Cirrus's sleeping form on the bed, I was just grateful that he had. While continuing a decent speed through the hall, Sodo continued, "I walked in on him smoking a fuck ton of cigarettes, and then I saw- well, I'll just show you. Once I saw this thing, he started freaking out, crying, all that shit." He had spoken so fast that he had finished by the time we stopped outside Swiss's room, which was literally right there.

My heart dropped once the strained, muffled crying hit my ears from the other side of the wall. I felt myself stiffen, and everything seemed to slow as Sodo reached towards the doorknob. He let me walk in first, my breath in my throat once I stepped forward to see the scene in front of me. Cigarettes lay all over the floor, and within the mess sat Swiss, curled up against the wall.

I entered the room more, which is when the ghoul's teary gaze zipped up to me. He paused for a second, looking beyond me to Sodo. His face scrunched up, half in frustration and half because of his sobs. Swiss hissed at the fire ghoul through strangled breaths, "I told you- not to, bring her."

He looked away again, and I looked towards Sodo. He looked just as hopeless as I felt when confronted with a crying ghoul. I took a deep breath and turned back around, making my way towards Swiss. He was purposefully turning his head away, and now his cries were quiet.

"Hey.." I crouched down in front of him, trying to keep my voice calm. Sodo closed the door and remained in the room, and I was aware of the mass amount of worry he held. When Swiss didn't turn to me, I ran a hand through his unruly hair, frowning slightly, "Sodo told me what happened, and that he saw something. That's what set you off, yeah?"

Slowly but surely, he turned his head towards me, nodding slightly. It didn't look like he trusted himself with words. I returned his nod, smiling slightly, "Wanna tell me what he saw?" He stared at me for a long while after that, tears continuing to stream down his face.

He shook his head, which is when Sodo started to walk over. He joined me in the crouching position, and instantly Swiss stiffened. "Please don't," he whined. My eyes tracked Sodo's hands as they made their way towards Swiss's sleeve. He persisted, "Sodo, stop, please." He almost made a move to get away, but instead his arm just flinched slightly as Sodo grabbed the cuff of his sleeve.

Swiss was starting to take quicker breaths that barely caught my attention. However, I was much more focused on when Sodo had pulled up his sleeve. The fire ghoul stood up right away, his hands to his head as he turned his back to the both of us. My eyes were glued to what I was seeing: raised flesh scattering his forearm just about everywhere, some burn marks that seemed to be newly placed. There were strange looking marks as well, like burns but with something different.