𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐰

Could Be The Last Time

Swiss seethed.

His blood was boiling, his free hand was clenched into a fist so tight he was surprised he hadn't broken his fingers.

Soothing the fire ghoul was a difficult task, one that Swiss had had to do many times. Mostly though, it was through bouts of his terrible anger, not. . . this. Not this hopelessness. The last time this had happened, when Aether first left, Rain had been the one helping Sodo through his self-destructive episodes. He had no idea what to do.

Swiss purred quietly, vibrating the ghoul lying on his chest, hands fisted into his jacket. Some of the tension immediately leaked from Sodo's shoulders, and the tears slowed down. A few moments passed, and he looked so peaceful laying on Swiss' chest, as if none of this had ever happened.

"Swiss?" Whispered words, quieter than a secret, and Swiss' heart broke at how. . . alone he seemed. How helpless, like he was stuck in a hole and didn't know how to get out, how to ask for help.

"Yes, my love?"

"Was it my fault?"

He was going to fucking kill Phantom. "No, darling, it wasn't. Sister Imperator made the decision. It wasn't your fault."

Sodo hummed, but Swiss could tell he still didn't believe him. He resumed petting the smaller ghoul, hoping that he could get him calm again. "Everything's going to be okay."

"Don't," Sodo's words were muffled by the pillow and shaky, and Swiss' tail twitched angrily. Of course Phantom would be the one to force Sodo back to how he was for months and months after Aether left. "Don't say that."

"Why?"

"Don't lie to me. It'll never be all right. It'll never be the same."

"No," Swiss tip-toed around his words. He'd have to pick and choose how to say this. "It'll never be the same, but eventually the pain will fade, and you'll be left with the good memories of him."

"But I don't want the pain to fade."

"What?"

"Well," the fire ghoul hesitated. "I deserve it, don't I?"

Swiss' heart dropped. Did he really think that lowly of himself? "Why would you say that?"

"I didn't. . ." He stopped. Took a deep breath. Burrowed further into Swiss's chest. "I wasn't able to stop him. I wasn't good enough for him and I pushed him out. It was my fault. It was all my fault."

"Oh, Dew," Swiss didn't know what else to say, and instead drew him impossibly closer, wrapping his arms around the smaller ghoul. It didn't take long after that for the constant vibration of Swiss' chest and the soft, gentle petting between his horns to put Sodo to sleep

As carefully as he could, Swiss detached himself from Sodo and slipped off the bed. He called Rain to come to take a turn with Sodo while Swiss looked for Phantom. As soon as he was sure that Rain was on his way, he stepped out of the room, coming face to face with Phantom.

"Is he oka–" he didn't get far before Swiss' fist met his face.

"What the fuck were you thinking?"

"I didn't- I didn't know anything."

"Yeah." Swiss turned around, leaving Phantom on the ground and heading off in the direction of Rain's room. "You don't."

Fuck. Phantom thought, pushing the door open to Swiss' room as soon as he rounded the corner. Guilt plagued his mind as he saw Sodo's tear-stained face. He didn't know what he was doing here, really, but he just needed to see him, make sure he was okay.

"Swiss?"

A fresh wave of guilt washed over Phantom when he heard Sodo's cracked voice. He opened the door again, pausing for just a second to say "I'm sorry," before going to leave. He looked back one last time, and his heart dropped to his toes.

The previously occupied bed, although it was occupied by a cocoon of blankets and a nest of pillows, was empty.

Sodo was gone.