Past Lives (Dark/Damien x Reader)

ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ-ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ: sɴᴀᴄᴋ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ

"Is there anyway to stop this?"

"... I'm not sure."

Dark wiped away the thick substance that was dripping out of his mouth, which had ultimately caused him to be even more pale than usual. (Y/n) held her breath, her hands enclosed and propped against her lips as she thought.

"This is all my fault... I'm sorry, Dark."

"Don't say such idiotic things," he snarled, insulted. "It was my own choice, and I'm reaping the consequence of it."

"But if I wouldn't have been involved with Mark and let him push me around then he wouldn't—"

"As long as you're safe, I don't care about what becomes of me, (Y/n)."

She looked over at him, shaking her head in disbelief.

"This is crazy.."

It seemed that (Y/n) had caught a moment to ponder over her choices in these past few months, being that she had been sitting at Dark's dining table for about fifteen minutes after hearing Wilford's theory. She used to be so normal. You know, being the best at her job that she could be while trying to forget about all the weird things that had happened in her life. Come to think of it, was her life even normal before Dark came into the picture?

He came within arm's reach, his hand simply sticking out to her. His cold hand made contact with her shaken face, gently and delicately feeling and remembering the texture of her skin. He got closer to her, his once upset features relaxing into something of a small smile.

"It's.. It's really you."

She smiled to herself, remembering the relationship that bloomed through one of her most drawn out, difficult court cases that still has yet to be solved. It all seemed like fate played out in their favor, in the weirdest way possible. What were the chances that she'd be assigned to this property and meet this 'entity' that was his former lover's doppelganger? A thought crossed her mind and she sighed timidly.

"Do you still think of me like you thought of her?"

"What?"

"We look so alike, don't we? Do you, um..."

"It's a comical thing, really." Dark pushed back his damp hair. It had been soaking in the cold sweats that had come over him from time to time, His body was under a lot of stress, "Although you both are so... similar—eerily so—you are also so different from one another."

"But, do you ever find yourself replacing me with her? Forgetting that we're different?"

"When we had first met, there were several times when I was ignorant enough to put both of you in the same category."

She stayed silent.

"I loved her. I loved her with all of my being, but she's gone now," he paused. "Now I understand that this is life's way of giving me a second chance. I shouldn't be walking. I shouldn't be able to be here. I shouldn't have been able to protect you, but somehow, I was."

He turned to her, clasping his hands over hers before kissing them softly.

"You are more than she was to me. I've been given the life I've desired and that makes so lucky. But it may be my turn to be the unfortunate one."

"What do you mean?"

"It may be my time to leave you, (Y/n). I did what I had to do to protect you and that may be the last thing I am allowed to do for you or anybody else. I'm sorry."

Dark's demeanor seemed to tremble as a sad emotion washed over his face.

"I love you, no matter what occurs from this point forward. I cannot give you enough to express my devotion to you. If something happens, I can only hope that a tear never falls down your cheek."

Dark sat her hands down gently on the table and cupped her cheek in his hand. Just like the first day they met, a relieved, small smile replaced his previous expression.

(Y/n) put her hand over his, taking the moment to just sit with him as tears gathered in her eyes. Was this really it? Was he just... going to die?

"Are you in pain?" her voice strained.

"My little monster, please don't cry."

His cold thumb glided over the tears escaping from her eyes, but all she could do was squeeze his hand tighter.

"Dark." William's soft voice called, standing stiffly at the archway towards the living room. Celine stood beside him, "Can I have a second with you?"

Dark's eyes left hers reluctantly, but he gave Will a nod regardless.

Without a word, the two left the dining room. The sounds of footsteps climbing up the stairs was the only noise (Y/n) heard before the clanking of porcelain glass cups from the next room, the kitchen, was caught by her hearing.

"Do you mind if I sit down with you, Miss (L/n)?"

Benjamin sat down a tray full of finger foods, snacks and two cups of what seemed to be tea. The girl looked up at him, her tearful gaze being met with a small, reassuring smile. The butler didn't wait for her response and sat down at the table in a seat next to her.

"I know this is a very casual setting for myself, but I thought it only appropriate considering the circumstance."

"Thank you, Benjamin. I do appreciate the company." The servant nodded.

The girl leaned back, letting out a heavy sigh as she let all of the information in her head sink in.

"What's going to happen, Ben? Is Dark really going to die?"

"Well," the butler plopped a piece of finely cut, sharp cheddar cheese into his mouth, "I'm not too sure."

"What do you think will happen?"

"If everything goes according to our research, my master and yourself should be able to live a beautiful life together."

"Wait, what? What are you talking about? What do you mean 'our' research?... Ben?"

Benjamin looked down in thought before picking up his cup of tea and sipping on it gently. He looked to the young woman with a glimmer in his eyes.

"Ms. (Y/n), if everything goes the way we want it to, this will be the last meal you have with me. Please take a drink of your tea. It would be a waste if you were to let it become lukewarm."