I watched calmly as Dante helped me put on his oversized shirt that I wore every night.
“Are you alright, master?” he said gently. “You’re quiet.”
I just stared down at him when he gazed up and gently tipped my chin up.
His face was inches from mine as he pulled off my eye patch.
“I’m fine,” I whispered as he pulled away. “Just... tired.”
“You shall sleep well tonight,” Dante promised, drawing back the sheets. “I will take care of the rest of your finances, alright? I think you should sleep in tomorrow. You’ve had a big day.”
I just shuffled into the bed, and he pulled the covers over me.
“Dante,” I whispered then, closing my eyes tightly, “I can’t... sleep.”
He just gazed down at me. “Is something bothering you?”
I nodded shyly.
He then knelt by the bed. “What is it, master? You can tell me anything.”
I just gazed up at him, but he just brushed my hair away from my eyes.
“Is it the nightmares?” he asked me.
“I hate them,” I whispered softly, and he just set his chin on the mattress. “I see their faces... My sister’s, my mother’s, and my father’s. My father reaches out to me, begging for mercy... and my mother just... she just stares at me in disaproval. As if I’d done everything wrong and there’s no return.”
His lashes lowered.
“I can hear the laughs and the echoes of the monsters who took me...” I continued, “I can feel my skin.” I clutched onto myself. “I can feel the drugs on my skin. They’re so sticky and so think... I can’t scrub it off. Nothing I can do can scrub it off.”
“Master,” Dante said softly, making me gaze up to find his chin still on the bed, “you have nothing to fear now. You have me, and Jess, and James. You are safe.”
“I can’t trust ever again...” I whispered somberly.
“You don’t have to,” he responded gently, brushing some more hair away from my face to expose the X in my eye. “All you need to trust is me. I will protect you until the end of time. Until the universe ends and our deaths are inevitable. That is the promise engraved in your side.”
“Is it worth it...?” I asked him. “To you?”
“Master, I have served you since I was born,” he responded, smiling softly. “You are mine and mine alone. I belong to you, I am yours. So, there’s no need to fear, alright? Breathe.”
I just watched him curiously. “Is my blood good enough to you?”
“Your blood is glorious,” he responded with a smile, brushing some more hair away from my face. “I appreciate you offering it to me.”
I just lowered my lashes. “Dante....”
He just ran his thumb under my eye. “Yes?”
Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it.
“Get...” I stammered, making his brows draw together, “get... get in with me.”
He blinked, immediately drawing back. “What?”
I felt my cheeks shade a light red, and I avoided eye contact. “Get in with me.”
His lips parted for a moment. “Master.”
I just rolled onto the other side of the bed, hiding my face in the covers.
“May I ask... why?” he said then.
I was shaking with embarassment now.
Right... I guess he doesn’t want to. Maybe he didn’t know how close he was to me, or... maybe I’m interpriting it wrong.
“Master...” Dante pressed.
I just sighed and shifted. “When you stayed with me last night... it really helped me. I just thought... I just... all those years ago when you held me... I thought it might help....” I trailed off.
The mattress behind me suddenly dipped down, and my eyes widened as I turned over, finding him sitting on the other side while shuffling off his blazer and his shoes.
Wait... really?
After he finished, he lightly undid his tie and set it aside, gazing over at me with a small smile.
I stared helplessly.
He just got under the covers and set his head on the pillow, smiling over at me still.
I stared.
Dante just opened his arms. “You already got the courage to ask. Don’t be shy. Come now.”
I stared still.
He smiled slightly. “Master, please.”
I just felt my cheeks burn brighter, and I shuffled over to him.
He smiled as I buried my face in his neck, and he wrapped his arms around me.
“Was it that hard?” he asked.
I just nuzzled my face in his neck.
He pulled the covers higher over both of us and ran his fingers through my hair.
“I have the kindness of an angel,” I whispered, “and the satistic nature of a demon. But I have the magic of a human. How do you live with me?”
Dante just set his cheek on my head. “Because you’re mine.”
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