The Menace

Adjustments and Trust Issues: Part 2

𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐎

It was morning. I was awake throughout the whole night and there was no chance of me falling asleep just like every other normal night. Gavir spooned me, which I found strange considering we had just met. It didn't matter too much because, for once, I actually felt protected.

I slowly moved Gavir's arm off of my waist and then sat up. Okay... I thought. How do I get up without waking him up? I crawled over Gavir trying my hardest not to hit him or press my knees on him. There were occasional squeaks from the box springs. Eventually, I got completely off of the bed and out of the bedroom. I tip-toed down the hall then into the bathroom and flicked the light on. I wasn't there to piss or anything. I wanted to wash the oil pastel off of my arms so that I didn't ruin Gavir's shirt.
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--𝐆𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐑--

I woke up to Nocturno gone. Of course, I nearly started to panic. Goddammit, I hope she didn't run off! I thought. I hopped out of bed and raced into the hallway. "Nocturno?" I called out.

"Shhhh! I'm in here." she whispered from the bathroom. The door was wide open. I sighed in relief. I walked down the hallway and stood next to Nocturno in the bathroom. "It's funny. Most people come in here in the morning and the first thing they do is piss." I said. "But here you are, cleansing your arms of pigment."

"Yeah... I just didn't wanna ruin your shirt."

"It's okay. It would've washed off anyway."

As Nocturno kept washing her arms off, her tattoo became more and more visible. It was a letter/number combination. C366. What could that be? I thought. "Question." I said.

"What is it?"

"What is the number for?"

"Identification. I need to hide it. I also have kill marks."

"What are kill marks?" I asked, curiously.

She turned her back towards me. "Uhh, what is it?" I asked, obviously confused. She gripped the color of the shirt and then pulled it up. That revealed ten average-sized circles halfway down her spine. But they weren't tattoos. They were burns. "The ten circles are how many people they know I've killed in my lifetime." She sighed, turning around. "I'm hoping it doesn't increase."

"Damn... Ten people?"

"I don't like to talk about it because it's over and done so... new subject, por favor?"

I couldn't think of anything I could possibly speak on. But then I remembered the reason why we were in the bathroom together. Then I had an idea. My old art supplies, I thought. Maybe Nocturno could keep herself occupied. Even at night. I wouldn't mind it. "How about this..." I began to propose.
  Nocturno quickly glanced at me. "What is it?"

"Since you can't sleep at night, why not draw or paint or something?"

She scoffed. "I would need space and lots of light. Can you sleep with the lights on?"

"C'mon. Lights are nothing."

Nocturno hesitated. "You sure?"

"Yeah! I think it'd be good for you. You know, doing something that you obviously love."

"Ah, I guess so... I'm not really that good, though; it's just a hobby."

"And yet another lie."

"Gavir..."

"Hey, even if you're not the best, just know that practice makes perfect."

Nocturno gave a stiff chuckle while rolling her eyes. "And I guess somewhere in my deep, dark soul, I appreciate what you just said."
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--𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐎--