⠀

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  i'm the one responsible for still keeping him alive.  he was in a reeeally bad state before i came along! ＂ the curse said as if it wasn't the one who made goro sustain such an injured form〝  don't i deserve some gratitude or praise for what i've done?  hell,  he'd be long dead by now if it wasn't for me~! ＂

（?!）wouldn't that mean..  he was still there?  his eyes widened.  swiftly,  he grabbed its shoulders. ⠀"  what?  are you saying he's alive?  tell me.  " ⠀his grip turns firm and tight,  demanding an answer.

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            an amused chuckle could be heard as it only buried its face against ryujin's shoulder in response〝  maaaybe.  if you ask nicely though,  i could let you see him for a bit~ ＂

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  i guess the pay was good too o3o ( ... ) oh alright,  fine!  it's because you guys seemed really cool!  and it just so happens that i'm perfect for the job you were offering! ＂

"  that's..  it?  " ⠀an eyebrow is arched.

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  i saw the flyer that you guys were looking for recruits! :D＂

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  if you end up doing that though,  lover boy here would also end up dying too you know.  wouldn't want that now would we? ＂ the curse said with a smile as he remained glued to ryujin's side

"  i really should've killed you..  " ⠀he'd pinch the bridge of his nose,  frustrated over the issue.  just the hassle of keeping his name clean from the suspicion of keeping this..  freely roaming curse will be his downfall.

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  well i think my jokes are pretty funny ò3ó  and just relax,  everything will blow over soon enough my dear jin~! ＂

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            the curse only smiled while walking up behind the other,  effectively closing the distance between them in favor of having their fingers intertwine〝  you wish i was /him/ right? ＂ it asked in a hushed tone against the shell of ryujin's ear

he's even..  acting like goro.  it was frustrating and..  just wrong in many ways.  no matter how conflicting it was,  he can't help but tolerate it..  even when it's crossing a line.  ryujin glanced back,  coldly,  and spoke again. ⠀"  well,  i don't.  "

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  oh,  i know that perfectly well.  but i like staying here with you more~! ＂

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  what,  you have a bad dream or something? ＂ he asked,  slowly waking up from his sleep induced state once he started realizing how shaken ryujin sounded〝  heh,  it's not like you at all to be such a worrywart jin ( ... ) don't worry,  i'm not going anywhere ＂ he reassured with a light joke,  trying to further ease the other's mind.  his arms lightly squeezed around the sorcerer's waist,  serving as a way to keep him further grounded and calm

a sidelong glance...  his breathing had eventually returned to its normal state.  calming down,  after hearing goro's voice.  despite it,  he couldn't shake off just what he had dreamed of,  it was..  terrifyingly realistic. ⠀"  i thought i..  lost you.  " ⠀muttered ryujin.

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  too early for you to be awake.. ＂ goro mumbled out in response,  his voice heavy with sleep as he aimlessly reached out so he could pull ryujin back onto his lap.  the sorcerer's yawn he later let out was muffled as he buried his face against the other's shoulder

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@6THEYES 　)
            〝  i'm not afraid of heights,  it's just way too damn cold all the way up here-﹗ ＂

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  closing yourself off would only make you more vulnerable to it you know﹖  deny it all you want,  but you already understand it yourself that you aren't able to let him go so easily ＂ the shove that was given was shrugged off in favor of once again closing the distance between them

his response just made him snap.  made him surge forward and grab the curse’s collar⸺the fabric twists.  the hold is tight,  and his crimson pupils pierced at them. ⠀"  you're disgusting.  you have the fucking audacity to use him to put up a front⸺i don't care what you think.  i can live without anyone.   " ⠀and a harsh shove is done after.

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  but why not﹖  losing everyone you love must be a heavy burden to bear.  so why won't you accept me as being him as if he never died﹖ ＂

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  because i'm interested in you of course﹗ ＂ it so easily answered〝  and if you let me go so easily,  wouldn't it hurt you even more to see me do something horrible in his body﹖  it'd be better to keep me close to keep an eye on me~ ＂

"  why?  " ⠀he queried,  utterly puzzled by its insistent nature on staying with him. ⠀"  just what the hell do you want from me?  you..  already possessed his body.  what more do you fucking need?  "

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  then how about we make it so there is a reason for me to stay﹖  i can easily fulfill any wishes or desires you'd need as goro ＂

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  and here i was thinking you were actually going to fall for my bluff ＂ he sighed out as if disappointed that the other saw through his act so easily〝  i assumed you'd be an easy target to go after using this method,  but you're surprisingly smarter than i thought ＂

"  what..?  " ⠀his brows furrowed,  he turns to look at his shoulder,  where..  goro settled.  something felt wrong and he knows it⸺this odd presence;  it made ryujin's chest heave. ⠀"  that didn't happen.  " ⠀argued the sorcerer who grabs goro's shoulders. ⠀"  don't fucking mess with me.  do you think i'm joking?  "

⌣̩̩̩̥̩͜⟢ ꠦꫂꯥ⠀　 ────　　　( 　@vermitic 　)
            〝  wow,  you must've hit your head hard if you don't remember ＂ came the taller male's response,  his chin casually resting on the other's shoulder after approaching ryujin〝  because of my amazing stalling skills,  the curse we were after was dealt with once you came back with backup.  you had a nasty injury though after everything that happened and passed out.  so i took you back to get treated.  does that jog your memory﹖ ＂

২ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ'ˢ ᵇᵒᵈʸ ⁱˢ ⁿᵒ ˡᵒⁿᵍᵉʳ ʰⁱˢ ᵒʷⁿ⠀.
            ⠀⠀"goro" ── a cursed corpse
            ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀  ─⃜─⃜─⃜─⃜