Nightmares | Sethos x Fem!Reader

Chapter 30

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The situation I find myself in right now isn't quite what I expected for today. I'm supposed to be worrying about whether or not I passed my finals, but instead, I'm stuck listening to Cyno and Tighnari bicker. Their relentless back-and-forth about how "Cyno's jokes are terrible" and "causing everyone to lose their brain cells" is beginning to get repetitive.

Tighnari's words, not mine.

"You just don't get my artistic vision," Cyno insists, barely holding back his laughter as he takes another sip of his drink.

Normally, I'd laugh along with them, even if only to break the tension. But today? I'm too distracted. The fact that I haven't received a single text from Sethos all day is gnawing at me, making it impossible to focus on anything else. Not even Cyno's deadpan jokes can snap me out of it.

"[Name]." Tighnari's voice pulls me out of my thoughts, his tone sharper than usual. "You know that staring blankly at your phone isn't going to make him reply faster, right?"

I sigh, not bothering to take my eyes off the screen. "I know... but if he'd only show up already." I groan, letting my frustration out by slamming my hand down on the coffee table. The motion is quick and forceful, making the cups rattle slightly.

Tighnari gives me a long, drawn-out sigh before gently pulling me against his side. My head falls against his shoulder, and I let myself sink into the comfort of his familiar presence. "He'll be here in a bit," Tighnari reassures, his voice soft but firm.

"He better be," I mutter, my voice laced with both worry and frustration. "It's not like him to just... disappear like this."

Cyno, who had been quietly observing, finally speaks up, though his usual sarcasm is tempered with a note of understanding. "Maybe he's just dealing with something, [Name]. Not everything's a crisis."

"Yeah, but it's Sethos. He's always around when I need him, and today he's just... gone." I shake my head, feeling stupid for being so worked up over it. It's just a few hours, right? He's probably busy, or distracted. But I can't shake this uneasy feeling in my chest, the kind that creeps up when things feel just a little too off.

"You know," Cyno says, leaning forward with a rare, more serious expression, "he's probably fine. But if it bothers you that much, why not just call him?"

I glance up at Cyno, surprised by the suggestion. My thumb hovers over the call button, but something inside me hesitates. What if I'm overreacting? What if he's busy, and I end up looking clingy?

"Just do it," Tighnari murmurs, nudging me slightly with his shoulder. "You'll feel better if you hear his voice."

Reluctantly, I hit the call button, holding my breath as the phone rings in my ear. One ring. Two rings. My heart thuds louder with each passing second. Finally, after what feels like forever, I hear the familiar click of the line connecting.

But instead of Sethos' voice, I'm met with silence. Then, a sharp beep, and a recorded message: "The number you're trying to reach is unavailable. Please try again later."

Panic lurches in my chest, and I pull the phone away, staring at the screen in disbelief.

"What...?" I whisper, the unease from earlier now tightening like a vice around my heart.

Tighnari's hand on my shoulder tenses. "What happened?" he asks, his voice suddenly more alert.

"It... it went straight to voicemail," I mutter, my mind racing. "He never lets his phone die. Something's wrong."

"[Name], it's gonna be fine..." Tighnari wraps his other arms around me, pulling me closer to him. "Try to calm down a little, okay?" He suggested, his fingers tangling in my hair. The familiar warmth and proximity of my childhood friend makes me feel more relaxed than I'd like to admit, and I simply bury my face in his shoulder.