Mad God's Love [Dark, enemies-to-lovers BL]

20 V 2

"Coulda been sum skin condition?" Citrine argued and she'd know – girl's puberty came at such force it literally stopped just short of dripping acid. She also unknowingly gave voice to my scepticism. Priest seemed capable of going against an armed squad, just very reluctant to. Many-eyed sister turned the entire meadow into a bear trap. But what did I really know of mouths? Perhaps some were just slaves with no added benefit.

Dentist shrugged and hunched in like the twelve year old that he was, suddenly unsure of himself. "I asked teachers and they were adamant people aren't like that. The next day soldiers came to school looking for me. Not militia, the real deal. The parade uniforms."

Is that why he stopped going there? Whenever we asked he'd just say it's a waste of time and he's better off working. As to what that was, was also mostly a mystery. Frankly, we didn't care enough. Everyone's been their own person and we weren't their parents. But this has been an eye-opener. No wonder the brat kept secrets. Was he afraid we'd snitch on him too? A bit strange, seeing as offending people would literally drop out of sight sometimes, but who was I to dunk on other people's idiosyncrasies?

Tom, the most sensible one, shouldered to stand in front of gloomy child and shook him once, "Is that why you really skipped school? Hey, you know you can trust us. Most would kill to keep you safe."

True, but also false. Keyword was most. Even I didn't trust majority of the gang. Some did not hesitate to steal or sell us out. To most people, even closest ones – and perhaps especially them, kindness was just an opening to be exploited. I had nothing against that - I did it on all appropriate occasions. Even being let into this village and get fed was mostly emotional manipulation. That just meant I looked out for it.

Dentist shrugged not really agreeing to the sentiment either. Tom on the other hand probably would not hesitate to do the unthinkable. He was a steadfast guy, but I suspected most of it developed after his injuries. So to say, he didn't take the household for granted.

Citrine's thoughts still lingered on more important matters, "But damn, tha' means yo guy has really been involved with monsters. Like... us?"

"Oh no! Are we going to be dripping water now?" Isla wondered with wide-eyed horror. I giggled, imagining taking the teasing a level further and asking monster to make this little worry real. Nah, a bit too harsh. Instead!

"Oh no, you might really grow a monstrous unibrow now!" I pointed at Dentist and laughed. No, he didn't really have one – yet, just two massive caterpillars that threatened to meet whenever he grimaced. I didn't often tease him about it but today after all was extra special.

After a brief flash of anger Dentist just looked at me unusually attentively instead of reacting in any way. Darn it, with grown body he's also received self-control and wisdom.

I rubbed my eyes due to tiredness and sighed. "Anyway. Please don't go outside... for now. We snuck you in and I'd hate for any of you to get shot. As you've seen, locals speak gibberish and so you won't even be able to talk yourselves out of it. I'll... We'll probably need to meet them and introduce to the idea of bunch more foreigners squatting in their backyard, but I hope it's not today. And anyway you'll need to decide what you want to do next. Perhaps we can keep it a secret right until we leave," that would be a nice solution. And this crowd knew how to keep low profile if it was necessary. "I'm clocking out. Goodnight."

There, I did my best to forewarn them. Their wellbeing now rested in their own hands.

I stole the tray away from hungry eyes and turned for the stairs. Cast a glance towards the demon, almost wanting to ask him to go with me but did not need to. He silently followed. I heard bits of the resumed fervent conversation. They had a lot on their minds.