🦷🔪𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧🎧✮

🦷 Toothache 🦷

Aether sat in Walker's room with silence as he scrolled through his phone while messing with a loose tooth he had, not even showing much bother about Walker cleaning the teeth of his recent kill. He knew full well about Walker's crimes, but it didn't stop him from hanging out with the guy. While everyone walked around and defended Walker without knowing the truth...Aether did it with that acknowledgment. Perhaps that's the little weight he felt on his shoulders. The weight that he knew the truth. Yet he lies to others and defends him with a straight face. A part of Aether could feel the tiniest bit of blood of his hands for knowing and even witnessing Walker's sins.

Like he was just as much a killer as his closest friend.

The thought of blood on his hands slowly started to make Aether spiral, the finger that messed with his loose tooth curled and shook with disgust. The thought of touching teeth made him mentally and even a bit physically recoil. The remains of someone. The remains of someone's kill. In his eyes it was just the same as blood on his hands.

Though Aether truly had no one he could trust in his life , but Walker. He just...had to suck it up. Take the guilt and blood on your hands till you can't take it anymore Aether.

Aether's spiraling thoughts were cut off when he felt eyes intensely staring at him. Slowly looking up , his eyes met Walker's intense stare. It made his body tense a bit, still not used to Walker's staring habit. Before Aether opened his mouth fully to ask what was wrong he felt something drop onto the taste buds of his tongue. An irony flavor..

Blood?

Aether slowly looked down as he lifted his hand to check if his nose might've been bleeding, but froze when he saw...his tooth? His tooth was in his hand? He didn't pull it out though?? When??, Aether thought as he silently stared and realized that it wasn't his nose that was bleeding. It was his mouth from when he yanked his tooth out without even realizing.

You okay?

Despite the voice being faint amidst his spiral of thoughts, Aether quickly recognized it and looked up to the source of the voice. He nearly jumped back in shock when he saw how close Walker's face was to his, his face portraying deep concern.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?! Do you need help?!"

Walker said, his voice expressing his deep concern for Aether's current state as Aether stared at him with a surprised look and running tears he hadn't noticed yet. At first he was fascinated and focused about Aether's tooth starting to loosen up to be taken out. Though when he saw how Aether's body froze and shook with his face twisting with guilt and disgust he was quick to worry. His heart broke for the state of his close friend, feeling shame for what his sins had possibly done to Aether mentally. What if Aether just...left? Leave and never talk to him again. Would he be happier? Would he LOOK happier? Would he expose his secrets to everyone or keep the bloody sins to his grave?

Before Aether could even speak a word out of his mouth Walker gently cupped his wet face, his eyes deeply staring into the other's with the expression of silent understanding and care for Aether's wellbeing. With a simple, yet affectionate gesture of a kiss to his forehead Walker spoke.

"You can leave if you want. Leave here and never talk to me again. You don't have to stay here if it hurts you, but please...at least remember what I used to be.."

As much as the thought pained Walker, he wasn't afraid to let go of Aether...for Aether's sake. As painful as it was to potentially lose someone so close to him...Walker was willing to let go. To watch Aether walk out his life. Anything to lift the pain off of his close friend.

Aether's eyes widened at Walker words, the thought of losing someone so close to him increased the tears. His hand clenched the tooth in the form of a shaky, balled up fist, his heart aching at the thought of being alone. To leave Walker out of all people behind.

He couldn't lose him.

Aether couldn't lose the only person he had such a close connection to. He was willing to drown in guilt and blood as an accomplice. He was willing to keep walking in this turmoil till he drove himself insane with the guilt and blood that painted his hands and mind. Anything to not be alone with his own twisted and selfish thoughts. He felt like his chest was being crushed at the thought of being stuck spiraling in the dark depths of his thoughts alone. Walker was all he truly had. Even with the blood trail he couldn't unsee. He was still his closest friend. Even if their morals were on two opposite sides of the compass. He was willing to accept and endure it.

Slowly leaning forward and resting his head on Walker's chest he spoke softly, the fist that shakily clenched his tooth relaxed had opened up. The blood in his mouth from the spot where he pulled his tooth out slowly swallowed.

"Don't say that to me...that a stupid idea..."

Walker stayed silent, offering comfort and solitude as he slowly cradled Aether to his chest. The guilt ate at him to see his friend like this. Even if it would hurt him to lose Aether...he hoped Aether could find true inner peace someday. With or without him. As long as Aether is at peace. He was willing to stand by Aether's side and be his safe space...even if that safe space was tainted with blood and teeth.

After being in silent peace in each other's comforting embrace for a while Aether slowly pulled away to Walker's slight dismay. Before Walker could even ask if Aether felt better or if something was wrong Aether gently grabbed his hand and placed his tooth inside, slowly closing Walker's hand.

"Keep it Lil' Tooth...I don't like touching teeth and don't have any use for it."

Aether said with a small smile of gratitude towards Wally, wiping the dried tear stains on his face afterwards. Despite the initial stab of guilt in Walker's at the mention of Aether's dislike for touching teeth , he was pretty happy to be called 'Lil Tooth' and given the tooth that belonged to one of his closest friends. His heart had a warm , fluttering sensation at the thought of turning it into something special. A gift. Like a necklace or a bracelet. Maybe one day he could give it to Aether to wear it when he's more comfortable with teeth...hopefully. He could only hope and wait patiently.