Asylum Love (Slashers x y/n)

Truth or Dare?

Freddy looked around the circle, his eyes landing on Norman who was adjusting his blanket. "So, momma's boy, you gonna cry if you get a dare you don't like? Maybe run to your mother?"

Norman flinched, his hands tightening on the fabric. "I-I'm not.

Hannibal shifted, a dark look crossing his face as he looked at Freddy. "Frederick, leave him be. We're trying to have a civilized evening."

Freddy opened his mouth to snap back, leaning forward aggressively, but I cut him off before things could get ugly.

"Okay guys, let's not get too far out of our heads," I said firmly while giving Freddy a look that told him to back down. "How about some truth or dare to get some feelings out? We are here to relax, remember? No fighting."

Freddy chuckled, settling back but still sporting that wolfish grin. "Fine. But I am not going easy on anyone."

"I wouldn't expect you to," I said. I glanced around the circle to make sure everybody was prepared. Jason sat cross-legged, a notebook I had given him earlier balanced on his knee. Thomas stared at me intently. Michael sat as still as a statue in the armchair.

"I'll go first," I volunteered, wanting to show them it was safe. "To get the ball rolling."

Without waiting for anyone else to speak, Freddy asked, "Truth or Dare, Kitten?"

I hesitated for a second. Choosing dare with Freddy involved seemed like a death wish, or at least a guarantee of embarrassment. "Truth."

Freddy hummed, his gloved claws drumming against his chin. It was a sharp sound in that quiet room. "Alright. Truth. You treat us all nice. You smile at us. But, honestly. which one of us scares you the most?"

The room fell dead silent. Norman looked down, Jason tilted his head, and even Michael seemed to lean forward just a fraction.

I looked at Freddy, then around the circle at the others. It was a trap question. If I responded with a name, I would possibly hurt their feelings or anger them. But I promised to be honest.

"None of you," I said calmly.

Freddy rolled his eyes. "Boring. That is a lie."

"It is the truth," I insisted. "At first? Maybe I was intimidated. But now? I don't see monsters. I see people who have been through a lot of pain. So no, I am not scared of you. I am worried for you."

Hannibal smiled-a small, genuine expression that reached his eyes. "A very diplomatic answer, my dear. And one I believe she means, Frederick."

Freddy crossed his arms, huffing. "Whatever. Your turn, Kitten. Pick your victim."

I scanned the group. I wanted to pick someone who needed to be included, someone who might be too shy to volunteer. My eyes landed on the large figure in the hockey mask.

"Jason," I said very softly.

He brightened up and straightened his back.

"Truth or Dare?"

He paused, thinking. Then he pointed to the notebook in his lap. He picked up the pencil, his large hand moving surprisingly gently, and wrote a single letter. T.

"Truth," I read out loud. "Okay." I thought for a moment. I wanted to ask something that would let us know him better without upsetting him. "Jason, what is your favorite thing to do? Besides. you know, the usual stuff people say about you. What do you do for fun?"

Jason looked down at the paper. He scribbled for a moment, then turned the notebook around so we could all see.

I like watching the deer in the woods. They are quiet.

"That is beautiful, Jason," I said, smiling at him.

Thomas grunted in agreement, nodding his head. It would appear the silent types understood each other.

Jason seemed pleased by the reaction, his posture relaxing. He looked around the circle to pick the next person. He pointed a finger straight at Michael.

Michael didn't move; he stared back. It was like a staring contest between two titans.

"I think he's picking you, Michael," I said helpfully.

Michael turned his head slowly to face me, then back to Jason. He nodded once, stiffly.

Jason made a gesture with his hands, miming writing, then pointed at Michael. He was asking Truth or Dare without words.

Michael said nothing. Instead, he slowly rose to his feet, strolled over to the little table with the snacks on it, reached out, and grasped a bottle of hot sauce that I had bought for the tacos earlier. It was the "extra spicy" variety that I was too timid to try. He unscrewed the cap and then downed the entire thing in a single gulp, without even flinching.

"I guess that counts as a dare," Norman squeaked, his eyes wide.

Michael set the empty bottle down, leaned back in his chair, and was untroubled. He looked at me, then turned his gaze to Hannibal.

"Doctor," Hannibal said, interpreting the look. "I suppose it is my turn."

Michael nodded.

"I choose Truth," Hannibal said, crossing his legs. "I have nothing to hide from this group."

Michael stared at him long into the silence that stretched out. Because Michael didn't say anything, we all waited to see how he would ask. Finally, Michael tilted his head toward me, then back to Hannibal.

Hannibal raised an eyebrow. "Ah. A silent question concerning our dear nurse. You want to know my intentions about her?

Michael nodded once.

I felt my face heat up. I looked at Hannibal, my heart beating a little faster.

Hannibal looked me right in the eyes, his gaze intense and unreadable. "My intentions are. complex," he began, his voice low and silky. "But simplest put? I intend to ensure she remains safe. The world is a rude and chaotic place. She is a rare exception to that. I would very much like to keep her. close."

Freddy made a gagging noise. "Get a room, you cannibal Casanova."

"Jealousy is an ugly color on you, Frederick," Hannibal replied coolly, without taking his eyes off me.

I cleared my throat, attempting to break the sudden intensity in the air. "Okay! Hannibal, it is your turn to pick."

He turned his attention to the one person who hadn't gone yet.

"Norman," Hannibal said.

Norman jumped slightly. "Y-Yes?"

"Truth or Dare?"

Norman looked nervous. He glanced at Freddy, who was grinning maliciously, waiting for him to mess up, then looked at me. I gave him an encouraging nod.

"D-Dare," Norman said, his voice shaking but determined. "I pick dare."

Hannibal smiled thoughtfully. "Very well. I dare you to let (Name) sit with you for the next two rounds. And you must put your arm around her."

Norman turned bright red, darker than the tomato sauce from dinner. "W-What? I. only if she is o-okay with it."

"I don't mind at all, Norman," I said, getting up from my spot and moving over to his nest of blankets. I sat down next to him. He was trembling slightly. "Is this okay?"

"Y-Yeah," he stuttered. He raised his arm hesitantly and set it around my shoulders. He was rigid for a moment, but when I leaned into his side, he relaxed, realizing I wasn't going to bite.

"See? Not so hard," I whispered to him.

"Your turn to pick someone, Norman," I reminded him.

Norman looked around. He seemed to take some confidence from having me next to him. He stared right at Freddy.

"Freddy," Norman said, "Truth or Dare?

Freddy laughed. "Finally! I thought you'd never ask. Dare. Give me your worst, psycho."

Norman swallowed hard. "I dare you to. to say one nice thing about everyone in this room. And you have to mean it."

Freddy's jaw dropped. "You have got to be kidding me. That's torture."

"It's a dare," I pointed out, stifling a giggle. "You have to do it."

Freddy groaned and threw his head back against the couch cushions. "Fine. But I'm doing it fast so don't ask me to repeat it."

He pointed a claw at Michael. "You. you have good fashion sense. Black is classic."

Michael didn't react.

He pointed to Jason. "You are. strong. Good for lifting heavy stuff."

Jason wrote something in his book, which suspiciously looked like 'Idiot', but he didn't show it.

He pointed at Thomas. "You make good masks. Very. crafty."

Thomas seemed confused but accepted the compliment.

He pointed at Hannibal. "You cook good food. Even if I don't ask what's in it."

Hannibal inclined his head. "Acceptable."

Then Freddy pointed at Norman. He struggled with this one. His face twisted up like he'd eaten a lemon. "You. ugh. you are loyal to your mother. There. Happy?"

"And (Name)?" Norman asked softly.

Freddy looked at me. For just that second, his expression softened before he masked it with a smirk.

"And the Kitten." He stopped and eyed me up and down. "She's got guts. Dealing with us? She is tougher than she looks."

I smiled at him. "Thanks, Freddy. That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't let it go to your head," he grumbled, adjusting his fedora. "My turn again. And since I was so nice, I need to balance the scales with something wicked."

His eyes twinkled with mischief as his gaze swept the room. He looked at Michael, then Jason, before his eyes locked on mine.

"(Name). Truth or Dare?

I had already picked Truth. I hesitated, suddenly feeling brave again. "Dare," I said.

Freddy's grin spread wide across his face, revealing his burnt teeth. "Perfect. You want to be one of us? You gotta break some rules. I dare you to prank call Mr. Adams. Right now."

Norman gasped. "B-But it is late! He will be sleeping!

"Exactly," Freddy cackled, "Wake the old grump up."

Hannibal chuckled low in his throat. "A chaotic choice, Frederick. But I admit, I would not mind seeing the administrator ruffled."

I bit my lip. Mr. Adams was terrifying in his own right, mostly because he had the power to fire me. But looking around the circle, I saw the expectation in their eyes-even Michael seemed to be leaning in, interested. If I backed down now, I'd lose my street cred.

"Fine," I said, pulling my cell phone out of my pocket. "But if I get fired, you guys are paying my rent."

I scrolled to the contact saved as "Grumpy Boss" and hit speaker. The room fell silent. Jason leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Norman covered his mouth with his hands, stifling a nervous giggle.

The phone rang once, twice, three times.

"Hello?" A groggy, irritable voice answered. "Who is this? It's 2 AM."

I spoke in a high, frantic pitch. "Hello? Is this the Slasher Asylum? Oh thank god! I need to report a complaint!"

"Who is this?" Adams demanded, more awake now. "A complaint? Call back in the morning!"

"I can't!" I wailed into the phone, winking at the guys. Freddy was shaking with silent laughter, clutching his stomach. "It's the ghosts! They are partying too loud! They're playing disco music and I can't sleep! You have to tell them to turn down the Bee Gees!"

There was a long silence on the other end.

"Is this a joke?" Adams roared. "I will trace this number and—"

I immediately hung up and flung the phone onto the couch cushion.

The room exploded. Freddy howled with laughter, slapping his knee. "The Bee Gees! Classic!"

Even Michael's shoulders were shaking in what I assumed was a silent laugh. Jason clapped his hands together. Norman giggled so hard, tears came to his eyes.

"That was. remarkably childish," Hannibal said, though he was smiling broadly. "Well done."

I fell back onto the floor, laughing along with them, the tension totally dissipated. We were not nurse and patients right now. We were a bunch of troublemakers having a laugh.

"Okay, okay," I gasped, wiping a tear from my eye. "My heart is pounding. That was terrifying."

"You did good, Kitten," Freddy said, wiping his eye. "You're alright."

"So," I said, catching my breath. "Who is next?"

Michael slowly raised his hand. The room fell silent; all eyes turned to this silent giant. He pointed a finger at Hannibal.

Hannibal straightened his posture. "I see. You wish to challenge me, Michael?

Michael nodded once. He gestured to his own chest, then to Hannibal's, then to the kitchen.

"A dare," Hannibal deciphered. "You want me to. cook something? Now?" Michael shook his head. He pointed to the kitchen, then made a motion like he was blindfolded. "Blindfolded taste test," I guessed. "He wants to see if your palate is as refined as you say it is."

 A spark of competitiveness lit up in Hannibal's eyes. "A challenge of the senses? Very well. I accept. I fear no ingredient." "I'll go get the blindfold," Norman volunteered, scrambling up. "And I will raid the fridge for the weirdest stuff I can find," said Freddy, rubbing his hands together.

 "You're going down, Cannibal." I watched them all move, a warm feeling spreading in my chest. No one was fighting. No one was hurting anyone. For the first time since I got here, this place didn't feel like an asylum. It felt like a home.