Are You Crying, Too?

I Love You

A warm feeling enveloped my body.  It cuddled up to me pleasantly, almost as if it was trying to become one with me.  I snuggled closer to the calming warmth, hoping for it to give up more heat.  I kept my eyes closed as I tried to drift back into the peaceful sleep I had just been in, but a quiet groan  woke me up from my tranquil slumber.

I opened my eyes slowly, still caught in fatigues net.  Turning my head, I saw a head of white hair.  It was trying to push itself farther into my abbs then it already was.  I slowly moved my hand to pat the hair to see what it was, only for it to back slightly away from me with a groan.
"Stop moving, Izuku," It said.  I stopped my movements.  It pulled the tan blanket up higher before it trapped me inside its arms as it smuggled up to me once again.  

"And cuddle me," It commanded.  I put my arms around the warm body, then I pulled it closer to me.  

My mind was to tired to comprehend what exactly was happening.  It felt like I had gone to sleep for the first time in forever.  The aftereffects of having such a good sleep took a while to finely wear off.  When it did, I immediately pulled away from Phthonus, who let out a large groan of disappointment. 

"I was having such a good nap.  Why'd you have to go and ruin it?" He watched me as I backed out of the bed and fell to the floor.

I made to run away, but I suddenly stopped when he spoke a command, "Stop," I looked back at him, only to see him cuddling up with the blankets.  He stared at me for the next while. 

"Don't you realize what you're wearing?  You don't want to go outside in boxers, do you?"  Phthonus tilted his head cutely, messing up his hair as he caused friction inbetween its layers. 
"And besides, " He yawned, "didn't I tell you that you would have have to follow every order I gave you?  You're practically my dog." 

Phthonus stretched his arms and laid on his back, parallel to the beds pillows, but kept his gaze directed towards me.  He giggled at something he thought of.

"Why don't you give me a little bark, Izuku?  Come on.  Bark," He looked at me, pure laughter filled his eyes.  I blushed madly when a little 'bark' erupted from my mouth.  Phthonus shrieked with undying laughter, and he commanded me to do it again.  I tried to cover my mouth, but my vocal cord and mouth had already done their job.  My blush increased.

He reached his arm towards me, and signalled me to come over to him.  Not wanting to have to obey his orders once again, I complied.  I walked to the edge of the bed, the edge that his head was closer to.  I looked down at him while he looked up at me with that cute smile of his.  I nervously smiled back.

"Cuddle with me," He commanded.  I slid into the bed with him.  He corrected his position so that both of us could use the pillows.  I snuggled my nose into his neck contentedly.  When did I start to feel so...  Comfortable around him?  I treated him like I cared about him.  Like it didn't matter that he tortured me just yesterday.  I felt like I've felt this feeling before.  But I don't remember it vary clearly.   

Phthonus and me cuddled until the light outside told me it was around noon.  We both got up and Phthonus asked me if I wanted something to eat.  I nodded.  I was only able to eat bits and pieces of food that he had given me while he was torturing my body.  I remember the first time it happened clearly.

The chair behind my back couldn't have gotten less comfortable then it already was.  The restrictions that held my hands and feet to it seemed to be cutting of any circulation that I ever had.  I couldn't see anything around me besides dull, grey walls.  There was nothing of interest.
I had been here for about three days.  I had been tortured everyday so far, and I had never been given any food or water.  I felt like I they were going to kill me.

But that name still gave me hope to get out.   It didn't matter that I was almost dead from a multitude of things.  As long as I had that name, all would be fine.

'••••••' 

I heard the door creak open slowly, followed by two voices.  Kira and Phthonus were talking to each other.  Phthonus had just shushed Kira away when the door fully opened.  He came in slowly, holding a cup of water and some food.  I stared at the nutrients hungrily.  Phthonus smirked.

"Want it?  How about...  I tear off a piece of your skin, and if you don't scream, you get to have it!  If you don't want to do this, I can just put the food away....  Or just eat it right in front of you."
I agreed to his plan, gulping at the thought of the pain I would go through.  I managed not to scream the whole time, though I struggled immensely.

"Izuku?" I heard, "Come on, it's time to eat." 

I came back from the memory and nodded.  I followed Phthonus into his kitchen and watched him cook breakfast.  He was an outstanding cook, better than any one I know.  

I followed every move he made, searching for any sign of a weakness that he might have.  Strangely enough, I didn't want to leave him.  I could easily grab the cloth on the kitchen counter and choke him until he passed out, then I could run off without him ordering me to stay.  But the the thought of even trying to hurt him hurt me.  I didn't even want to think about it.

Phthonus finished making the food and he set it up on the dining room table for the both of us to eat.  We both sat down to eat after I thanked him for making the food.  I scarfed down the food quickly, the sensation of hunger that had become familiar to me over time finally went away.  I was smiling happily.

I noticed Phthonus staring at me, a small smile on his face.  I turned red and wiped off the excess food from my mouth with my arm.

"S-sorry!" I stuttered.  He laughed. I kept my gaze on my lap.

"I'm glad I decided to keep you alive, Izuku," he said.  I took my eyes off of my lap to look into his glowing grey-white ones.  The words I spouted out next caused both of our eyes to widen.  It was as if my instinct took control.  Only the aftershock of what I said stopped me from seeing Phthonus's wide smile.

"I love you."