{ just a short chapter to

                                                                    tide you guys over until

                                                              i get the motivation to write }

When I woke up I felt much better than the previous night. Brendon was next to me curled into a tiny ball and occupying such a small amount of space it was like he wasn't even there.

Honestly, the whole night was confusing and weird to me but I decided to ignore that as I stared at the curled up boy. He wasn't as scary when he was asleep.

His breathing was soft and rhythmic, almost calming. His soft hair fell into light waves around his head, framing his sharp face that almost softened during sleep.

My heart stuttered at the look of him, childlike as he curled up tighter around a pillow. I swear with every passing second the strange love for him in my heart grew stronger. It felt immensely wrong, being in love with a demon.

It felt almost sickening to see his jaw pulsate and his teeth sharpen to points in anger. Surely he was strong enough to kill something, or someone.

I tried to ignore the pit of anxiety swallowing my stomach and instead opted to push the man's hair away from his forehead and kiss the soft skin where two faint circular scars made their home.

Standing, I moved to the kitchen. What should be for breakfast today? Might as well enjoy what I have before I get evicted. Who knows how long it will be before I'm working again. Hell, I might as well look for a new job before trying to talk to my manager.

Brendon stirred in my bed, he grunted and sniffled. I paused, trying to make the least amount of noise while continuing to make some waffles. He might leave if he wakes up and even the thought of him being away from me was painful.

Jesus christ what did this thing do to me???

I scratched shakily at the holes in my neck that had become nothing more than raised scars. The shaking in my hands pushed them up into the top of the waffle maker.

I hissed in pain as the small burn made my hand tingle.

 I saw movement and Brendon was standing next to me. His breathing was heavy and his eyes looked guarded. He stared at me and scowled.

" What did you do?! " he growled, grasping my hand in his and glancing at the slight burn.

" W...What?? " I simply stuttered out. His abruptness caught me off guard and sent a spike of anxiety through me.

" You hurt yourself...why do you hurt yourself so much?? " he huffed out shakily, slipping his arms around me and resting his head on my chest.

My heart raced at his touch, especially as his hands tightened their grip on my shirt. I watched the smaller man, his breathing shaky and his horns barely starting to poke out of his forehead from even the slightest sign on danger.

" Brendon? "

He looked up at me, his eyes bordering black. Fear coursed through me but I pushed it away.

" The food is gonna burn, " I murmured.

" Better the food than you, " he replied in a whisper.

A blush painted my cheeks at his words. I placed my hand on his head and played with his hair until the small point of his horns poking out retracted and his breathing calmed. This man will be the death of me I swear.