•This is Real• [Diabolik Lovers × Male! OC]

Chapter 25: Forgiveness~ (ah ah ooooh) can you imaaagine~?

I was discharged pretty soon after waking up.

The cut was deep but it missed major arteries so I was free to go after a couple stitches.

I sat in the back of the car, my fingers gently running over the stitches on my neck from under the gauze they taped on it. Occasionally I'd catch one of the threads and shiver. Damn I hate needles.

I glanced over at my chaperone Reiji.

The boys seemed to have all been vying for the position, heck even Shu the lazy bum threw his hat in the ring. However, once Reiji joined in it was almost guaranteed he'd be it.

He was looking straight ahead, whether he actually saw beyond his thoughts was another thing though.

It seemed my staring caught his attention though as soon his ruby eyes had caught mine.

'too late to look away now...'

"I- uh was reading up on the history of silverware and- uh-"

'goddammit where am I even going with this?'

"I- uh..." Great, real smooth...

"You read up on silverware?" He looked at me, one eyebrow cocked. I nodded hastily, trying desperately to recall information from the book I'd read out of absolute boredom while procrastinating today. "There was uh- this really interesting teacup made by uh- Palase du Pa- uh..."

'my god I sound ridiculous...'

I resist the urge to jump out of the damn car right then and there.

Then a strange gasping noise came over from Reiji.

'hold up......

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IS HE LAUGHING???'

He held his gloved hand over his mouth, his eyes narrowed strangely.

'He looks so-

Stupid...'

"Ahaha..ha.." I awkwardly shuffle in my seat.

"You are rather intruiging for a mortal," his eyes cast over mine. I felt like I could shrink under his gaze.

"T-thank you...?" I chuckled gingerly and turned back to the window.

He's gotten less uptight...

I think...?

The rest of the ride was carried out in relative silence.
_____

Once we arrived back I was handed off to Shu, rather begrudgingly if I might add, by Reiji.

The blonde looked me up and down rather disaprovingly.

'What, ya lookin for a FITE?!

Yeah no, I wouldn't stand a chance...'

He picked his school jacket of his back and draped it over my shoulders. It was then I noticed he popped the collar to cover my neck deliberately. I looked at him a little puzzled before he led me by the arm down the hall.

Seemed like the whole world and their grandparents were there.

The Sakamakis and Mukamis were having a quite staredown, each set of brothers on opposite sides of the room.

And to my dismay, the stairwell was right next to said room.

'great...'

I tried to move noiselessly behind Shu to reach the stairs but of course... damn vampires notie everything...

I heard a soft padding of feet as a familiar voice called out. "A-ace I-" but before the bandage adorned vampire could come within two meters of me, Subaru and Kanato stood between us. "If you go near doll again, I will kill you."

I felt Shu's grip on me tighten to pull me up the stairs but I stood my ground.

"Azusa, I-" I stare into his eyes, they look different than before. "I forgive you..." The words leave my mouth in a hushed whisper and all I stick around to see is Azusa eyes widening in a silent surprise.

I give in to Shu's pull and follow him upstairs. As much as I hated stairs, the climb was over before I knew it.

Once we reached my room, Shu lifted the jacket off of me. "Thanks Shu," I give a small smile but honestly, I couldnt wait to go to bed. He stared at me for a beat longer before setting his jacket aside and covering the distance between us in a few strides.

His hand caressed my neck.

What was with that pained expression on his face?

"Does it hurt?" I gently shake my head, finding myself rather speechless at his proximity to me. His fingers run across the gauze and graze my neck. I bite back a shiver and swallow.

"I'm sorry I made you worry." I say with a grin.

He drops his hand but looks a little off. He rubs his palms against his pant leg, a nervous habit? He turns and heads for my bed, laying down on one side of it, not bothering to go under the covers. I sigh, admittedly a little relieved, but move to turn off the lights anyways.

Fumbling in the darkness, I make my way to the bed only for something to pull me down. I expect to hit the floor but, it seems like a pattern now, I fall onto my plush bed, encased in Shu's arms.

'how long am I gonna be treated like a DAMN RAGDOLL FOR???!?!?!?!'

I sigh, but the hug was undeniably comfortable.

'you know what? Fine, I'll play along!'

I slowly flip to face the boy, careful to not strain my neck too much. His eyes are closed but yet I feel him observing me.  Hesitantly, I place my forehead on his.

It was nice and cool, it felt like heaven against my head.

'I guess the fever is still as stubborn as ever...'

His blue eyes open and yet again I'm left wondering how one's eyes can be so beautifully vibrant. Strangely enough, I feel no fear as we lock eyes, noses almost touching. "How lewd..." He muttered and I had half a mind to whack him then and there.

'talk about spoiling the mood...
'
But then his arm snaked up my back and pulled me closer.

We were basically chest-to-chest and I could feel his low, deep breaths.

'breathing but no heartbeat huh...? I'll never understand how they work.'

The position was strangely calming, my headache disapated by the cool contact and my body felt at ease in his arms.

As I drifted away, my brain now half asleep, I catch him whispering something that never quite registers in my head.

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"Do this to me only..."