Mirrors ◇ Joji x Reader

X. Vulnerable Monster

TRIGGER WARNING: (SLIGHT) BLOOD
Present Day
Sunday, November 27

I froze in place, slowly reaching into my pocket. My eyes shifted from his face to different areas of the room, looking for an escape route.

"What's wrong, babe? You look tense..." he frowned.

I didn't answer. My fingers made contact with the blade inside my pocket. He gently lifted my head so that is make eye contact with me.

"Am I scaring you again?" He said as he pulled my hand out of my pocket, my grip firm around the switchblade that was just in it.

"I'm... um... I..."

He sighed, "I'm not going to hurt you... I was just trying to... nevermind." He put the blade back in my pocket, turning around and heading back to bed.

I had a feeling he was trying to make a move on me, but I was too scared to give in. I felt bad... but he had a tendency to act like a monster.

"Joji...." I sat on the bed, rubbing his back, "Let's just talk, okay? Like civilized people."

Joji nuzzled into my thigh as he lied on the bed, "Can we cuddle instead?"

I lied down next to him and gave him a squeeze. He buried his face into my chest. Even though this was an innocent gesture, I couldn't help but keep my guard up. The poor thing seemed so vulnerable... But if I let my guard down, who knows what would happen? I decided to keep my guard up.

"I'm too sad to do anything, (Y/N)." He mumbled into my chest.

I sighed. "It's hard to trust you... you've decieved me so many times..."

He looked up at me with his black eyes. I could sense the sadness in them.

"I know... I'm sorry." He nuzzled into my chest again, beginning to sob.

I gently stroked his hair. At this point, I couldn't help but put my guard down. I took his face in my hands.

The blood in his eyes mixed with his tears. In other words, he cried blood.

"Let's go flush out your eyes, huh?" I gave him a reassuring smile.

He nodded before the both of us headed to the bathroom. This time, rather than drenching them with saline, he just washed the blood off with water from the sink. Little by little, the darkness drained away. I smiled when he was done.

"Feeling better?" I said, still smiling.

"Well I can see better, yeah..." he droned.

I frowned at his emotionless response, "What's-

"I'm a monster, (Y/N). What do you think is wrong?" He snapped, rubbing his face, "It's so hard for me to understand... how to get you to love me..."

"Well, first of all you don't 'get someone to love you'," I said, using air quotes,"It just happens. And secondly you are Joji... I do love you."

"No you don't. You love him. You pity me," he spat, his head lowered.

"Joji..."

"What? You're gonna tell me you're afraid because of this new experience? That you're not really afraid of me? That's a lie and you know it," he pointed at me, stinging me with his harsh words.

"Do you expect me to tell you that you're a demon that resembles Joji and occasionally shows genuine emotion?"

He paused, biting his lip. After several moments, he spoke.

"That hurt more than the lie..."

"Then what do you want!?" I yelled in frustration.

"I want you to stay... with me. Not just because you pity me, but because you want to be here..."

"You know I can't do that."

"You can. You just don't want to. You have your school here. Your job. Me. Your life is the same here as it is there. The difference is that everyone thinks you've been missing for a year."

"But... him..."

"That's exactly my point. You prefer him over me."

"No, I... why do you think I came here? Would I bother with you if I preferred him? Would I think about you at all? Huh?"

He looked deeply into my eyes, as if he was scanning my brain for something. Some wavering thought that combatted my words. Then he leaned closer... And closer... until I could feel his breath on my lips. He moved no further. What was he waiting for....

He was waiting for me. He wanted me to show that I wanted him. So I leaned in.

The kiss was gentle and familiar. He wrapped his arms around me. It was at this moment that I felt safe and at peace. The way he kissed me, the way he tasted, the way he held me. It was all the same. And it was arousing.

A/N: This fic is so close to 1K reads and I have to say THANK YOU!!!! I had a lot of faith in the concept behind this fic but I never knew it would be this popular! I'll do my best to update when I can but in the meantime feel free to read my other fics and maybe suggest some one shot ideas (it's so much easier to write singular ideas than an ongoing series let me tell ya). Thank you again and Happy New Year!