Liberty and Death (Viktoff Samson x Lilbreadstick18)

[Viktoff Samson]

Lengthy and wild black hair matted with blood dances around a torn young man's body as he drags himself from alleyway to the street and right back into the concealment of another alley. His jagged nails piercing the ground to improve his shaky hold on the pavement beneath him as he pulled his topless and tall form further and further from his pursuers. He'd thought he was sure this time he'd fight to his death. He earned that fate, the lives of his own kind that he's smothered out to promote his own stained his heart irreparably. Despite his once pale skin now painted in splotches of red that belonged to both himself and his white-clothed victims continuing to pull itself together at the expense of his ability to remain conscience, he'd growl to himself and gnaw at his bottom lip to pull himself further. If he passed out here, he would undoubtedly be slaughtered in his sleep. Even the part of himself that longed to be finally free of his guilt didn't want to die that way.

Just as he was sure that he'd lose his grip on the waking world, he'd release his lip from his teeth and smile just a little bit. This was the most dire situation he's been in this year, and yet it was also the moment that he felt the most alive. Even if it was just about as compelling as a bunch of kids playing hide and go seek, he found himself not wanting to lose this one. It may have made him sick to be so full of contradictions, but it was far from being boring. His fingers grew worn and some of them were gruesomely damaged by the way that he forced them into the rough ground. He'd pull himself up a wall to try and put some weight on his potentially repaired legs, the moonlight seeming to encourage him to stay awake just a little longer, finding some success with his previously destroyed legs as he walked on them somewhat similar to a pirate with a pair of pegs.


The irony of just how nice his look was before he ran into the death battle hours ago wasn't lost on him. His casual appearance more closely resembled a man from a grunge aesthetic rock band's guitar player or perhaps even the guy on vocals at the front of the music videos. Not that he picked that youthful look for himself, he never really had much money. The moon would fall just a little more in the sky as he came upon the fine grass of a fine lawn, which was unusual for the city. All light seized in this moment as he was unconscious before his mostly healed body slapped the ground in an oddly graceful fashion. He'd be motionless in this slumber, without even a groan.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

Cierra giggled as he attempted to pronounce her name. She knew it was a little complicated but didn't realize it might be that bad. But then his tone changed to something seeming much more seriously, and he placed his hand on her head. Cierra blushed and giggled.

"I'm just trying to do what I can. Of course I couldn't leave you out there to die, and, well, since you said you've never had your own room, I'm just trying to give you a little taste of life, ya know?" She looked up and smiled sadly at him, then said, "A-and besides, it's no trouble! None at all!"

 

[Viktoff Samson]

How could she be so genuine and generous? So polite and deeply kind? She was everything he imagined someone would want their perfect daughter to be, everything he once imagined he'd want his significant other to be. And yet he wasn't meant to live this life. His train fell off the tracks long ago and there wasn't going to be a repair crew coming out for this job. The battery that kept the lights on in the front cabin was certainly short a good bit, and he wasn't going to dwindle away forever.

Doves have to pay as well.

Standing before her now, it was impossible to defy her any further. Her smile, even when it was sad, warmed him greatly and started to wash away his convictions. His hand from her head would move along with his free hand to take her cheeks as he'd look right into her eyes with his lost expression. "It'd be plenty normal of you to have left my corpse well enough alone in your situation. Ghouls do that all of the time, saving their own skin. I wouldn't have blamed you or held a grudge. And you left the safety of your home to take me in. From my wounds, it had to have been obvious that i had a pursuer that'd be at least scary to fight." He'd start a point in the direction as to exactly why she'd be smart to have left him outside. And yet, his words didn't carry forward as he watched her with a concerned look.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

Cierra's face bloomed in a pink blush as he took it in her hands, but his words failed to match his actions. As he spoke of being left for dead, alone, of the selfish actions she could have taken rather than trying to help him, her face scrunched up in frustration. She backed away from him, setting down her brush and pacing to the other side of the room. "You don't get it! You clearly don't get it. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I had left you for dead. I know what the other ghouls do, and I'm not okay with that! I'm just trying to do something for someone. And it just so happens that I got lucky with the someone I ended up finding, you're so-" she stopped herself, realizing what she was saying and blushing once again. Cierra turned so that he couldn't see her face.

She had seen what ghouls do to other ghouls. Since then, she has sworn to never be like one of them. She doesn't get much opportunity, with this sheltered life, to give back to the ghouls that are working to prove that they aren't all horrible beasts, but when this chance came... She would hate herself if he had died.

 

[Viktoff Samson]

Her warmth was unusually brilliant in the way he just couldn't ignore it. From her cheeks to his fingers, this touch wasn't immensely intimate but he couldn't help the feeling that he was lucky to share this contact with her. She was so clean compared to him, and whereas others may find that sort of life mundane and too safe, he longed for it. In his heart, he knew his life so far wasn't one he choose to have and he didn't know how to make the most out of it. One wrong move and the doves would catch up to him. One wrong move and he'd be completely alone again, no matter who he grouped up with in the past. But, here, he didn't think she'd kick him out if he made a mistake. And for some reason, it twisted his heart to make her say the words she had too and to escape his hands.

Just as he was going to dwell back into blaming himself for making her react this way, blaming himself for being foolish or ignorant, he caught onto something that she said before she turned away. "Lucky finding someone like me?" He repeated softly into the silence as he approached her from behind once more, his hands not taking to keeping her in place as they remained at his sides. "What's that mean, Cierra?" He'd try to be a little more lighthearted than before.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

She felt him approach her cautiously and she covered her face with her hands, even more embarrassed that he caught that. "I- I don't... um.." She turned back to look at him, peering up at his careful gaze through her fingertips.

She liked him. He was kind, and gentle, and entirely genuine. He was more real than any ghoul or human she had ever met. But... he was dangerous. He was clearly involved with the doves. And the doves don't hunt ghouls unless they're dangerous... right? As she looked up at him she was suddenly overcome with fear, realizing that the young man standing in front of her could be incredibly dangerous. She took a step back, her breathing growing heavy. Oh no, what have I gotten myself into?

 

[Viktoff Samson]

She didn't seem bothered by the way he glanced over her shoulder at her painting before, or at least that's what he thought. And just as he thought he caught her on a train of thought that he found entertaining to pursue, what she said as she turned around giving more credence to that, he watched as that all faded away. Her raising breathing pattern and the way she backed away from him made his careful gaze shift to a more concerned look. He couldn't help how his left brow raised just a little in confusion as he began to think she was somewhat claustrophobic or something and that she had just been really good at hiding it so far.

Did he make her uncomfortable up close? He couldn't really quite what's got her all turned up now, but the possibility remained that she's just afraid that there's some truth to the idea that she likes having him around a little more than she was leading on. Maybe she was afraid he'd leave if he thought that way about her? He couldn't very well approach her on just a guess, and he didn't know if he should turn away. "Did I do something wrong?" He frowned now as his eyes narrowed just a bit, a look of trying to figure her out without being too accusatory. If this were a legal case, he'd be playing defense.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

Her fear dissipated a bit as she continued looking at him, his face morphing into that of a hurt puppy. God, he's cute. Wait! No! He could be dangerous. You have to be careful. She stared at him and opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She thought for a moment, then opened her mouth again.

"Why are the doves hunting you?" she asked gently. She hoped she didn't come off as accusatory because if he was innocent it would just be aggressive and if he was guilty he might get defensive. She had to play this very carefully.

 

[Viktoff Samson]

Her question was quite clear and he didn't think for a second that she was confused about what she meant. If the doves were on his case, they knew he was a ghoul. What he did to give that away was another question entirely. He felt as though she meant to ask that instead of what she said, because now he felt as though she was pondering what bad act he performed that made them hostile, which was only slightly confusing. It was possible that she didn't understand.

He'd soften his expression and looked down at the floor, the part in his bangs not quite hiding his face like he'd wish it did. "They'd hunt you too, if they knew you were a ghoul. Doves don't need a reason to kill. The only safety a ghoul can have is to hide what they are, nothing more. The legal system promotes our deaths for what we are, and there isn't anything more to it."

 

[lilbreadstick16]

He stated it so clearly and bluntly that she was at a loss for words for a moment. He was right, she knew that, but she had be raised not to fear the doves. If you fear them, they notice, and then they suspect you.

But still. Doves usually only go after ghouls that late, and that intensely, if they've done something... right? He must be guilty of something. She eyed him suspiciously. "Well yeah, it's the doves' jobs to hunt ghouls. But the injuries you sustained seem to be a lot worse than a normal run in with a dove..." She looked again at his legs, unable to see anything through the sweats but checking anyways. "And why isn't your kakugan gone?" She stepped forward again, growing softer, gentler. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be accusatory, it's just... I just realized the position I've put myself in and.. I've got to make sure that my family stays safe." She began to reach a hand up to touch his cheek but stopped herself.

 

[Viktoff Samson]

His hand took the one that she raised for just a moment, holding her smaller hand entirely with his own without a grip. It wouldn't be tight in the least, leaving the impression that she even just stopped holding her hand upwards that it could slip through his fingers and down past his palm. By this point, he wouldn't be looking at the floor any more, fighting the part of him that just wanted to run and he'd just look directly into her eyes again. If he was as beaten down and unfortunate as he was before, it'd surely be odd to a psychologist to find his comfort with eye contact to persist this far. She was being accusatory, but she was right to do so.

"My Kakugan just doesn't go away. It hasn't reverted in a long time." He'd state this plainly before guiding her hand closer to herself and then releasing it, frowning as his eyes would appear to grow heavy. "I'm a danger to you. I'm a danger to your family, and not just because the doves know what I look like and won't give up the hunt for me. I should-" He'd swallow and looked away. "I should just go."

 

[lilbreadstick16]

Cierra trembled as he took her hand but didn't pull away. She was intrigued. But when he mentioned his kakugan, it all clicked. Of course the doves were hunting him. To possess the appearance of a ghoul in broad daylight was suicide anywhere you went. Her eyes widened and she gasped, her free hand raising to her mouth.

"I- I'm sorry, I didn't know... I.." she stuttered, looking for something to say to him. She had never heard of this before but she couldn't imagine... living your life in fear. It must be horrible.

 

[Viktoff Samson]

"You've done enough for me, Cierra." Oten's words were rather direct, but he softened his voice at her name. No matter the situation, it would seem that he was unable to use her name in a tone that wasn't tender. After just a small pause, he'd turn and head for the steps.

It didn't matter why she was apologizing, because at the end of the day there wasn't going to be a way he could reasonably inform her of his truth. He's devoured both humans and ghouls and despite having his mental split in check, there wasn't a true certainty that he wouldn't just wake up crazy and kill her too. He's done something similar when he was just a boy, after all.

And he was so hungry then.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

Cierra's heart sank at his words, knowing that he meant them as a finality. But he clarified to her that he meant it as a goodbye when he turned and began walking towards the steps. "Wait!" she cried. She spun around, catching him by the first thing she could reach, which happened to be the waist of his pants. She was too short to stop him at the shoulder, so this was the best she had. "You'll die out there. This is a really busy neighborhood and especially this time of day, if someone saw you, you'd be killed for sure. Please.... don't go. I like you here. I.. want you here. I don't care if it's dangerous, I'm tired of living my life cooped up here and it's not fair for me to get all this while you spend every day unsure if you'll wake up the next morning it's-" She began tearing up and her voice cracked. "It's not fair." She dropped her hand, head hanging, dejected. Tears didn't fall but god were they there and ready. She took a deep breath and looked up at him.

 

[Viktoff Samson]

He wasn't prepared to feel the waist of the sweats being tugged on. In fact, the moment he sensed it he'd pause in place. If he took too bit of a step, she would have pulled the waist too far for his barely decent attire to remain PG13. That part wasn't what was important, however. He'd be frozen over at her voice and the words she shaped with it. It was entirely unimaginable, despite the compliments he's had in the past, for him to possibly imagine she did all of this just because he had a handsome face. Something about him was already important to Cierra, and as much as it meant to him to be needed it was also another sin tacked onto his guilt. She didn't know he was a monster, and he couldn't stomach the pain or how he imagined her face would contort should he have to tell her the truth.

And he couldn't lie to her either.

Turning now and looking right into her eyes, he'd hug her head right to his bare chest. One arm over her shoulder with a palm on her back and the other hand was on the back of her head. He did this to hide the look on his face with his eyes wide open and a mix of concern and guilt written all over it, but he also couldn't help but hug her after all she said and the look in her eyes. "You're contagious." He'd whisper, clearly choking back his nature to say so much more than he normally had too.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

He turned around, finally making eye contact with her, and suddenly pulled Cierra in for a... hug? Her face bloomed bright red and she was sure he would be able to feel the heat of it against his chest but she couldn't help herself. She was horribly flustered, both worried about him and confused at the emotions she was receiving from him and herself. What was she supposed to make of all this??

"You're contagious," he whispered. Contagious? What did that mean? What that a good thing? A bad thing? Her face reddened a bit more as she pulled away, only about an inch or two, just enough to be able to look up into his eyes questioningly.

 

[Viktoff Samson]

He was defeated, and it showed on his face. Even if he looked so much better after the shower, the look on his face didn't display the same confidence that he'd normally wear. He wasn't as twisted as he was when he woke up. Oten couldn't stomach telling her anymore and that much was displayed on his eyes that'd ask as much from her. Just like his stomach was twisting in real time at the idea of telling her just one more thing, as though he couldn't give her both his company and the truth.

As her eyes met his face, he made no move to hide it. There was something he wasn't saying, and it wasn't life or death fear, but there was regret in his eyes. Almost as if he was pleading with her to ask anything else. Pleading with her to just let his past go for now. He'd lower his head further in defeat as his long hair shrouded his face.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

Cierra looked down at her hands, which she found resting on his chest, ashamed that she had pushed him. She ran a finger absent-mindedly over his collarbone, then followed the trace of bone down his chest, across his ribs... She shook her head and looked back up at him. "Please, just stay a few days. I won't push you, and I'm sorry that I did. Just stay until you're all healed up, and then... and then I won't fight it if you want to leave." She dropped her gaze at this last bit, staring at nothing on the ground.

 

[Viktoff Samson]

Something about her touch over his chest, her hands resting on him and the finger she ran over his collarbone and over his ribs which made him feel so much lighter. Unfortunately, what he had left of a soul was tortured and bound by the ankle to the fate that he's chosen for the wretched monster inside of her. The pain he experienced earlier didn't haunt him, his near death experience didn't weigh on him, because he's accepted both to be what he deserved and he'd ultimately put himself in the same situation unless Cierra somehow poisoned him and chained him up. Which, unless he was almost completely lacking in the ability to read people, wasn't in her toolbox.

"I'll stay." He spoke to her just as his face came to the top of her head so that his words could be whispered into her hair. Ultimately, this also hid his face from her as well, but he'd also hold her just a little tighter for just a moment before letting his arms drop to his sides.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

She stepped back as the intimate moment seemed to come to an end but clasped her hands in front of her, relieved. "Thank you... I couldn't bear to watch you put yourself in harm's way like that." She looked at her hands, knotted within each other and hanging in front of her. She was definitely scaring him off.. but what else what she supposed to do? He was in danger. She couldn't just let him walk out onto an open battlefield like that. She hoped that the few days that he stayed might be enough to change his mind about the whole situation. A girl could dream..

 

[Viktoff Samson]

He last part of her sentence made the voice in his head scream so loudly that he could barely think. Of course that's what he's going to do. But, she wouldn't know that. She couldn't know that. He didn't want her to know that. He couldn't tell her that. If she knew, his heart felt like it'd finally escape through his mouth to be rid of the dusted corpse he's been parading around all of these years. If she rejected him for who he was, he knew he never could truly be whole again. Even if he thought he knew that already. "You're an odd one, thanking me for staying in your house and eating your food." He tried to joke and pulled a tight and almost wavering smile just for her.

"Besides, those doves would love to run into me at less than half of my total power." He folded his arms, mixing in playfulness with the truth as he turned from her and made his way towards his makeshift room, only barely being reminded of all of the blood that was surely stained onto the bedding. A fitting bed for Oten, the stain. "I couldn't give them such an easy victory." He joked more with his tone lightening with each word. In a way, he was like a kid playing villain and he enjoyed that.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

Cierra giggled as he tried to lighten the mood, wiping at her eyes. "Y-yeah. Gotta make em work for it.." She followed him into his room, hoping he would like the few improvements she made in it. She suddenly remembered the box of old blankets that her parents kept in the spare bedroom. Her eyes widened and she spun around, sprinting upstairs. She ran to the bedroom and began digging through the chest for a certain blanket, tossing out the fluffiest ones as she dug.

 

[Viktoff Samson]

The changes around the room were noticeable, perhaps the coffee pot was a little more tugging at his attention than it should have been, but he was definitely finding her dedication to housing him to be fairly curious. What was it about him that got her so engaged with this? This couldn't have been the way she'd behave if she found just anyone else laying to near death, could it? He couldn't imagine just how big of a heart she'd have to have if that were the case. And thinking about that twisted his own heart as he reminded himself that she was also a ghoul, and the doves would kill her too. As if they were no different, there sentences wouldn't vary in the least. They weren't deserving of a day in court, they didn't get benefit of the doubt or another chance. They eat people so that they can live, and their crime was not accepting death fast enough for nothing more than what they were born as.

He'd follow her after a delay, catching her throwing the blankets around as he'd just lean against a wall nearby and watch. Oten's arms crossed over his chest as his gaze followed her every motion and he didn't even begin to process why she was doing what she was doing, he just didn't wanna look away.

 

[lilbreadstick16]

Cierra finally found the blanket she was looking for. It was a fluffy throw blanket, though frankly rather small. But it was her favorite when she was a kid. She smiled and hugged it, then turned around to pick up the other blankets, jumping and squeaking when she saw Oten standing there. "Oh uh I uh.... sorry. Didn't see you there." She blushed and began picking up the other blankets, putting away some of the less comfortable ones. "I just. Um. Wanted to get you some more bedding. Since your blankets were probably kinda, uh, bloody." She stared down at the floor, horribly embarrassed.

 

[Viktoff Samson]

Why did she have to be so godforsakenly cute? It was already difficult for him, both feeling as though he owed her something despite her words and that he'd miss her too terribly much if he did just run when she wasn't paying attention. His heart was already shriveled and pathetic, mirroring his self-esteem quite closely. He wasn't going to be able to break the deal set forth just moments prior. He couldn't forget her smile, and the way her innocent grace embraced the blanket that she found. He wouldn't know it, but he was starring right into her eyes longingly. The feelings swelling in his chest carving his features into the mixed and confused look across his face. After a blink, he'd shake his head with color coming to his own cheeks before he'd turn away. Her embarrassment being missed as he tried to shroud his own moment of complete lack of thought. What'd she think of him if she knew the feelings swelling in his chest?

"Shouldn't you be wary of what you move and turn over while your parents are out? If they find out this way, I'm sure it wouldn't be pleasant." He'd try to distract himself with a piece of criticism for her before moving back towards the basement stairs.