Rogues

Episode 35 | The needs of the soul

Bismuth sighed, leaning back on the headboard of Prince's bed as he processed everything his pack mate had just told him.

Prince whined, fidling with his fingers nervously. Opening up and allowing himself to be vulnerable was not something he did often, especially not when it was about Em. Everything about his feelings for her had always felt too personal to share.

Bismuth sat up, patting the shadow ghoul on the back. "Well...Damn."

Prince paused. "...What?"

"I don't know. What do you want me to say?" The air ghoul groaned, resting his head in his hands.

Prince whined again, turning his gaze back to the floor. "I love her."

Bismuth froze, gazing at his pack mate in utter shock. Never, in all of the years that he'd known him, had Bismuth heard Prince ever say something like that so directly. The air ghoul could feel his soul glowing, unable to keep back the wide smile that spread across his face.

"I love her, Bismuth, and I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't love me back." He almoust sobbed.

This was much more difficult for him than most. There had been absolutely nothing traumatic about him and Bismuth ending their courtship, but it didn't change the fact that Prince was now much more hesitant to let himself fall for anyone else, too scared that they'd grow apart the same way he and Bismuth had.

"She does love you, Prince. Trust me, I can tell just from the way she looks at you. And you want to know how?" Pince hummed as a reply. "Because not even I used to look at you with that much love in my eyes. It looks like she's learning what the word 'love' really means every time she sees you."

Prince chuckled, leaning his head on Bismuth's shoulder as he thought of her again, her gorgeous blue eyes still haunting him.

"I don't even know how to bring it up with her." He laughed again. "I mean, how am I suppose to just casually walk up to her and tell her that she's the love of my life and every second without her feels like an eternity?"

Bismuth grinned. "Well, shit. Are you some sort of poet, mate? Maybe don't bother saying it casually and just say that instead."

They both laughed again and Prince sighed, closing his eyes as he cuddled further into Bismuth, the air ghoul wrapping his arms around him protectively.

"I love her so much, Moth." He muttered again, earning a proud smile from Bismuth.

"I know, Prince. And, I promise, she does love you back."

---

The next morning, Prince was feeling better than ever. He'd received another dose of healing magic from the Clergy's quintessence ghoul, Aether, to help with his injuries from his time with Santos, and his conversation with Bismuth the previously night had definitely helped to calm his mind.

At least it had, until he saw Rain and Em leaving her room together.

In an instant, slivers of the rage and irritation he'd been feeling the day before seeped back into his mind and he faught to suppress a growl at how happy she looked to still be around him. This had to stop. He needed to just talk with them and understand what was really going on.

He sighed, preparing himself as best as he could to go deal with them. Talking with Em was difficult enough already, and Rain being there too was not going to help.

But, regardless, he pushed his fear to the back of his mind and strolled over to them, his frustration completely overtaking him when he saw them laughing together. Instead of choosing to just talk to them there, he grabbed Rain by the wrist, who was already holding onto Em's hand, and dragged them both back into her room.