Dark Venus- Nick Scratch Fanfiction

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝟓

The strawberry milkshakes liquified before us as our conversation became heated over who understood the film better. Evelyn and Valentine had their arms crossed, both clearly in disagreement to each other. Nick looked between the two, then brought his attention back to me, leaning into my shoulder.

"Are they okay?" He spoke in a quiet voice.

I stared out at Evelyn who sat in front of me. I lifted my eyebrows at her, questioning if everything was okay. She had promised me one night of perfection and yet, she sat across from me with her pettiest scowl.

"They like to tease each other, that's all." I made sure my foot found her knee under the table. A quick jab at her joint would surely remind her of our agreement.

Evelyn composed herself, sitting up and uncrossing her arms. "You know what?" she smiled over at Valentine. "You're right Val, I totally misinterpreted that movie." She reached out to the previously untouched milkshake and brought the straw against her lips.

I gave her an approving smile. Was that so hard?

Valentine seemed to have caught my exchange with Evelyn. He sat up, his hands clamped but now resting over the table. He looked at Evelyn who was about to set the milkshake down, before leaning in and taking a sip from the same straw she had drank from. Nick and I exchanged a look. My brother was not a romantic, it was awfully weird seeing the gesture– was he flirting?

My nose turned up, the sight nearly disgusted me.

"You guys are great, thank you for coming out here and agreeing to see the movie with us. I had a lot of fun." Nicholas never shied away from expressing his feelings, it was one of the things I liked about him. Maybe because expressing our emotions wasn't something we were taught or encouraged to practice. A faint smile appeared on my brother's lips. I had never really seen him smile over something as small as a thank you.

"Thank you for inviting us out, my sister and I don't get to do this often." Valentine shrugged, "Nick, if there is anything our family can do for you, we're here."

My smile faded. Valentine would never offer something so kind. Not unless... he had been asked to by the dark lord. Had he come to my brother, asked him to befriend Nicholas scratch as he had asked me?

"Thanks man, I appreciate that." Nick nodded, turning to face me with a softened look. He believed Val's offer to be genuine. I wanted to believe it too.

I would never tire of his warm hand in mine. There was nothing rough about Nick, all of his imperfect edges were sanded off by his kindness. I took his blood pumping vessels as a blessing. Sometimes I wondered if this god of his... was truly evil. Unlike I, Nick had not been created by the dark lord. He was someone else's son. And I couldn't help but think that he was the greatest creation of all.

Evelyn and Valentine stayed behind as Nick and I approached his doorstep. Nick wrapped his warm hands around my waist, looking down at me with a soft smile. I searched for something in him, the slightest lie, the slightest indication–he wasn't real. Yet here he was, standing before me, human. He leaned down, I tiptoed to meet him halfway. His lips met mine. My back arched, hoping to get closer to him. The porch light flickered. We took it as our cue to separate.

"I'll see you tomorrow? Same spot?"

"Same spot." I confirmed.

We watched Nick head inside and left at exactly midnight.

Our walk home was silent, until we were far away enough.

"The dark lord came to you!"

"You've spoken to the dark lord!"