.

.

.

Thoma felt a chill down his spine as you grabbed his hand and locked fingers with him. It was a sensation he hadn't experienced in such a long time, sending a shiver through his entire body. He glanced down at your hand, then back up at your face, his heart racing. The unexpected touch stirred a mix of emotions within him, reminding him of both the past and the uncertainty of the present.

You

"I'm ready to go back, of course."

.

"Y'know, to the cell and Archons and stuff."

Thoma

"What?!"

"Y/N- No, no, I think you've got a misunderstanding-"

You

"What do you mean?"

"You took me here to save me?"

You let go of Thoma's hand and leaned against the kitchen counter, turning to face him. The shift in your stance brought a new level of intensity to the conversation, your eyes meeting his intensely. The kitchen, once filled with the sounds of broken glass and scattered utensils, now seemed almost eerily quiet.

Thoma's face flushed with a deep crimson as he tried to conceal his embarrassment. He shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. 

His attempts to maintain composure only made his discomfort more apparent, adding to the awkwardness of the moment.

Thoma

"Well... Yeah..."

You

"Weird. Didn't expect that from you."

Thoma stood in silence. His eyes remained fixed on the floor, his thoughts a whirl of confusion and embarrassment. The silence stretched between you, each second feeling heavier as he struggled to find the right words or actions.

You

"You know you could get arrested for this, right?"

Thoma

"... Yeah."

You

"So why do it?"

Thoma

"Because I'll do anything to make up for what I did back then."

You

"What you did is-"

Thoma

"Unforgivable. I know."

"But I'll still do anything."

Thoma finished your sentence for you. His words seemed to bridge the gap between you.

You

"... Just hand me in already, Thoma."

Thoma

"I refuse to do that."

You

"And why's that? You already did it once, why not do it again?"

Thoma

"Because that was wrong!"

Thoma yelled, his voice suddenly loud and intense, responding to the question you asked as soon as you asked it. His sudden outburst took both of you by surprise. His eyes blazed with a mixture of frustration and desperation.

You

"... Wow."

.

"Never thought I'd hear you say that."

Thoma

"I'm truly sorry, Y/N..."

You

"... I have nothing to say."

You sighed, the sound heavy with a mixture of frustration and resignation. The tension in the room seemed to amplify as you exhaled, your shoulders slumping slightly. The silence that followed felt thick and oppressive.

You

"So..."

"Ayaka and your sugar daddy. Are they-"

Thoma

"Ayato's not my sugar d-"

You

"Shut up, that's not the point."

"Again- Are they aware that I'm in their home?"

Thoma

"Uhm... Yes."

You

"Huh."

"And I'm still here..."

"Why didn't they hand me in? I'm sure they would have the moment they saw me."

Thoma

"I sort of... begged them to let you stay."

"... Mostly Ayaka."

You

"What do you mean by that?..."

Thoma

"I don't know... Ayato just asked me if I care for you."

.

"I told him I did."

You

"Hm."

Thoma

"So it's like... Ayato didn't even fight against the idea of letting you stay here."

"... He hasn't talked to me since though."

You

"Damn."

"How'd I even get here?"

Thoma

"Lumine stabbed you, and you took one of them long... Knock-out nap things."

"I don't know what to call it."

Thoma began talking, his words accompanied by exaggerated hand gestures as he tried to convey his thoughts and feelings. His arms flailed and his hands moved dramatically through the air. 

Despite the seriousness of the conversation, you couldn't help but laugh at his expressive movements. The sound of your laughter cut through the tension, bringing a moment of lightness to the otherwise heavy atmosphere. Thoma paused, a confused yet amused smile forming on his face as he took in your reaction.

You

"Hehe... What are you looking at me like that for?"

Thoma

"Like... what?"

You

"Like that. You got that stupid smirk on your face and it looks dumb."

You both chuckled, the shared laughter easing the tension that had built up between you. Thoma's animated gestures slowed, his shoulders relaxing as he joined in the laughter. The sound echoed warmly in the kitchen. For a moment, the seriousness of the situation was forgotten, replaced by the simple joy of a shared laugh.

Thoma

"I don't even realize the stupid faces I make... It's kinda dumb."

Thoma looked away in embarrassment, a shy smile playing on his lips as his cheeks flushed. He rubbed the back of his neck. His eyes darted around the room, avoiding your gaze as he tried to compose himself.

You

"It's funny."

Thoma

"Really? You think so-"

"Oh, my Archons!"

You

"What?... What?!"

When Thoma looked back at you, his eyes widened in shock. His expression was a mixture of surprise and confusion as if he had just realized something significant. The lighthearted moment vanished, replaced by an intense, serious atmosphere once more.

Thoma

"Your- Your wound!"

Thoma watched the blood run out of your mouth as he stood there. Your clothes were covered in escalating amounts of blood and before long, you were on your knees, coughing up copious amounts of blood. 

Thoma was terrified.

You

*Cough!*

Thoma

"Oh shit..."

Thoma swiftly carried you and gently laid you back on the couch with urgency and concern. He hurried to fetch more medical supplies, his mind racing with panic. By the time he returned, his heart sank at the sight—the couch was completely drenched with your blood. 

He winced, cringing as he carefully pulled up your shirt to examine the nasty wound. The sight of the gaping injury made his stomach churn, but he steeled himself. His hands shook slightly as he prepared to treat the wound.

You felt weaker than ever in this situation. Normally, things like this wouldn't even faze you; you were immortal, after all. But this time was different. For some odd reason, this injury was one out of the thousands you've endured that genuinely felt painful. 

As Thoma worked to tend to your wound, you could feel the searing pain radiating through your body, each pulse making you wail out in pain.