WHEN THE RAIN STOPS- Scrutinized [TANNER x LUNA] 2 IN 1

SIDE STORY PT. SEVENTEEN

~2 week later~

|TANNER|

I was at home when I heard the woman I had tied up in the basement scream. I got up cheerful, 'finally. Geez she took forever.' I walked down stairs, and turned on the light. Her face looked in utter horror til she saw me. Then it changed to.. a filthy look. She watched me as I walked in front of her and took out the gag. "Heyyy, big guy.. whatcha doing?" She said in a flirty tone. I smiled as I bent down to face her eye to eye, "Oh you know, just waiting for my food."
"Oh yea? Well..I can be your snack." She winked as I knelt down and grabbed her thigh, "no my darling, You. Are. My. Food." I bit into her thigh and ripped off the meat as she screamed. "STOPPP, PLEASEE! I'LL DO ANYTHING! PLEASE!" I took another bite when I finished the first. She screamed out again as the blood went over my shirt. "PLEASE I-I- DO YOU WANT SEX?! PLEASE! ANYTHING STOP-!" I got up and lifted her chin. "Sorry hun, I'm taken. Nice try though." I bit her neck and ripped it off when she screamed one last time before dying.

I had to take my anger out on something, Luna still hadn't waken up yet and nothing felt right. This week alone was the week with the most kills on my count. 2 today and 1 yesterday. Usually I only did 1-2 a month for food but I couldn't stop. Once I finished my take on meat for the night I packed her up in a the freezer for another time. I wiped my mouth away of blood before I stepped in the shower. Turning on my music before washing my hair and body.

I guess my taste in music changed once I couldn't see Luna anymore. It made sense, since our music reflects on how we feel, and all I wanted was for her to hold me. Layla and Laurence had been inviting to events to check on me more often. They weren't really bothered by my 'work.' Honestly they just cared if I hurt Luna or not. Which I never did. And besides from that we got along.

I turned off the shower and got changed into my usual, dress shirt and pants, to go out for the night. It was only around 9:30 and I wanted to see Luna. She stayed in the hospital in room 129; on the 4th floor. I bought some flowers and her favorite Cookie, just in case she woke up, and went to the hospital. They let me through and I went to her room. I knew I was getting close when I heard the beeping of her heart monitor. I turned the corner to find her, laying still with her eyes closed. I softly smiled and walked over to her, placing down the flowers and cookie next to her. "Hey Luna." I sighed as I sat down close to her side. "I brought you a cookie, and yea I know you won't eat it but still. You need the nutrition." I chuckled as I laid my head down in my arms on the bed next to her hand. "Do you want to listen to music? I brought headphones." I took her silence as a yes as I plugged it into my phone and gave her an earbud.

We sat there listening to music as I put her hand under my face to make it in a caressing position. Even though it didn't move it still felt nice. I was about to drift to sleep when I felt a flinch in her hand then her thumb moving ever so slightly on my cheek. "Luna?.." I grabbed her hand and took out the earbud as I held it, "squeeze my thumb if you can hear me.." I waited for a second as she gathered up the strength to weakly squeeze it. Even though it was small and seemingly unnoticeable I still felt it. She was awake. I got up with excitement and yelled for the doctor. Once they came in I told them what happened as they tested it out for themselves. "Squeeze my hand if you can hear me Mrs. Youngman." It took another second but they did in fact feel it. The nurses were shocked as they prepped her to fully wake up. It was a good sign she was moving muscles, but it would take some time for her to be at 100% again. It took some time before she opened her eyes, her blue, soft eyes... they were teary as she looked at me for the first time in weeks.her hand shook in weakness as she lifted it out to me. I grabbed it and kissed her knuckles. Her lips formed into a quivering smile as she was happy to see me.
"Tanner?" I nodded "good morning Luna." She shot up and hugged me tight. "I'm sorry!" She screamed in my ear. I rubbed her back as she let it all out. "I thought you, Laurence and Layla would hate me, and never want to see me again so I jumped!.. I'm so sorry!" I hushed her as I reassured her it was fine and that I was going to take care of her. "But I-.."

"you did nothing..wrong. The world was being cruel and your thoughts betrayed you. I don't blame anyone but myself that you went to that place. So please stop blaming yourself. I love you."

She nuzzled in deeper into my hold as I kissed her forehead. I texted Layla and Laurence if they could help me take her home, since I walked her, as they told me they would be here soon. Once I got a text they were outside I picked up Luna, bridal style, and took her to the car. She held onto the flowers while she ate the cookie. We got in the elevator when she started being herself again, "so..I need the nutrition?" She said while taking a bit out of the cookie. I playfully rolled my eyes "yep." We laughed as the elevator dinged at us to get off. We went to the back where the pick up cars were and were greeted by Laurence and Layla coming over to us in a hurry, as if Luna was a new born baby. "Oh Luna! We missed you, you have no ide-." Layla said before being interrupted "is that a ring in your finger?" She froze as we all stared at her. Luna looked down. "Is that a bumppppp!!!" She chipper out as Layla blushed while cupping her own cheeks to a nod. "I didn't tell you guys but... IM ENGAGED AND PREGOOOOOO!!" Luna cheered as Laurence hugged his sister. My lips formed a smile as I was proud. "When's they wedding?" Luna asked as we went into the car. "We're waiting for the baby to be born to have the wedding. So maybe in.. 7 months?" Luna smiled "awww, who's the guy thoughhh??" Layla smiled as she blushed at the name "Ian." I laughed out loud, "that's my brothers name." I smiled, Layla stayed quiet while she looked at me. "What? Is something on my face?" She shook her head. Luna got the cue faster than me. "LAYLAAA!" She nudged her arm as I finally got it. "You're engaged to my brother?!" I said with a disbelief smile on. Layla nodded as she pulled up a picture. "He was waiting to tell you when you went home for Thanksgiving." I looked at the picture to find my brother, happily snuggling Layla.

I gave her the phone back as I congratulated her. I didn't mind that she was dating my brother, in fact I was quiet happy he found someone as kind as her. He usually went for the.. how do I say this...mean sexual type. Once we got to Luna's house I carried her to the front porch, "you know I can walk right?" She asked jokingly. "Yea, but I like the feeling of you in my hold." She booped my nose "Aw, so cute." She giggled as Layla unlocked the door. Luna allowed for us to spend the night as she didn't want to be alone. When we got in I put her down as Layla took her to shower. It was a little weird that she stayed in there with her but then again they are childhood friends. Now if it was Laurence It would be a totally different story. Laurence and I waited for them to get finished by cooking pasta. There was a Lot of pasta for some reason. We shrugged it off as we decided to ask when she got finished with her shower.

"Red pasta? Or Alfredo?" I shrugged "red I guess." Laurence smiled "Good man! Good thinking!" (Reference 😉) I scoffed a laugh as we began to cook with music on in the background. "So, how do you feel about Layla being engaged to your brother Tanner?" Laurence asked, clearly very curious. "I don't mind. I mean this might be the first time her has actually found a decent girl to date." "Oh? How so?" Is sighed, "he usually goes for girls who are more exotic. Like... ya know." Laurence Oh'd as he got it. "Yea, but I guess he finally wants to settle down this time." Laurence side smiled "yea, he's a nice guy too. I trust him with my sister. But I just want to be safe..is he also on the dark web?" He asked in a hushed voice, I shook my head. "Nah, he's just good at business."

Laurence was relived as the girls came out of the bathroom. Both with wet hair and new clothes. "Did you guys..." Layla nodded, "We used to do it all the time so there's nothing weird about it." She giggled as they sat down. They kept giggling to each other as Laurence and I were confused.

|LUNA|

I barley set one foot in the house when Layla dragged me to the shower. She told me my hair was greasy and that she didn't trust me not to fall in the shower. I laughed it off as I took off my clothes. Surprisingly she did too. We started giggling when we looked at each other, "Damnnnnnn Luna!" I laughed even more when she started hyping me up. We got in the shower and started bathing when we locked eyes with each other, she moved my hair out my eye as she caressed my cheek, "you're so beautiful Luna..." I looked at her lips as we inched closer together. The music filled our ears from the other room as we kissed. It was nice, but then again any kiss is nice when it's with the right people. There was no sexual tension after too, we just looked at each other and laughed. "We did not just do that!" She joked "I think we did!" "Well...Not bad!" I laughed harder. I didn't know why but I felt kinda drunken stupid that night. Maybe it was because I hadn't registered that I was still alive. After we were done with the shower we put on our clothes as we made our way to the other room.

They must've noticed our wet hair as they asked "Did you guys..." we laughed at each other, as we sat down to eat.