Chapter Text
When Dark woke up it wasn’t to the soft feel of newly cleaned sheets or the comforting warmth of his duvet, but to the cold hard feeling of the wooden floor of the first floor living room. When he slowly sat up in his sleepy state and tried to brush the wrinkles out of his suit the pain in his upper back made its presence known.
His whole back was sore and his hair was ruffled and messy from sleeping on the floor. Dark looked with hatred towards the carpet he just barely missed by a meter in his sleepy state the night before, if he had slept there maybe his back wouldn’t hurt whenever he picked something up or just as much as turned around to look at something over his shoulder.
Dark hadn’t yet noticed Anti or Wilford’s absence and went on with his day like usual. He was weirdly hungry and ate too quickly. Afterwards he showered and while the fog from the warm water surrounded him he spaced out and tried to listen to Celine and Damien’s voices and found them with a surprising ease.
Celine was angry like always, but her emotions felt dampened like she was in truth disappointed but tried to hide it with her anger towards Anti. Dark wondered what their soulmate could possibly have done to make her feel like this.
Damien was thinking of multiple ways they could get their revenge on Anti and how he never ever wanted to see the demon again. Dark was puzzled by this conclusion because he had thought Damien was the soul that accepted and wanted Anti the most.
Dark, confused and slightly worried, tried to remember what had happened the day before. Trying to recall what had occured when Dark had teleported them home he remembered sleeping instantly, not noticing any weird behaviour from Anti at all. What was it Anti had done to make such a big part of himself feel so betrayed, disappointed and angry?
His confusion was soon replaced with anger when he finally remembered.
Anti had betrayed him, Anti had left him bleeding and injured like he he didn’t matter to him at all. Dark always had a feeling Anti didn’t care enough about him and that his love was only obsession angled with the obligatory commitment that must have come from them being soulmates, people always told Dark that you were never in doubt if you soulmate loved you and Dark had stupidly belived them until now.
What Dark didn’t know was that the feelings of doubt were placed in both of the demons' minds because of the high stress and exhaustion that came from fighting. If the two of them just rested like they needed and talked about what had happened to them they wouldn’t feel any doubt of the love between them. Soulmates never failed and it was unfortunate that it would take so much pain for the two of them to realise that.
Stepping out of the shower Dark quickly dried himself off, styled his hair with his usual gel and at last slowed his pace down to clean his teeth for exactly 2 minutes and 10 seconds. Dark checked a final time himself in the mirror to make sure his face was presentable enough.
When his face and body was clean and looked good, Dark wrapped the towel across his body, covering his chest too, a habit he had from Celine and walked with long and quick steps towards his bedroom to get some new clothes on, he had laid his blood covered suit in the washing machine and turned it on immediately, disgusted by the smell of blood and sweat.
Looking inside his closet Dark chose one of his favoured suits, he debated a lot on it but in the end came to terms with the fact that when he confronted Anti and maybe beat him up if his anger wasn’t gone by the time they saw each other, he wanted to look his absolute best.
Ignoring his messy room that he normally wanted spot free even when he wasn’t present at home, Dark ignored his injuries and teleported away turning all of his anger directed at Anti into help for his powers to teleport him.
Demon mates were known to teleport to each other without knowing the other's direction so with enough concentration Dark should be able to do it with no problems.
Opening his eyes and regaining his stand, Dark found himself in front of a big house that looked to be from the 1800’s. Dark didn’t know enough about architecture from before 1970 really but he could guess somewhat accurately that the house was built before 1900.
Dark couldn’t imagine how much it must have cost to restore the house, and how many years it must have taken?
His head was filled with mundane questions and wonders along those lines and it was hard showing them aside, but after a few minutes of staring at the clean windows and well maintained walls of the house and entrance he was standing in, Dark got himself together and with a returning anger knocked harsly two times on the black double door where a thick golden ring with a little circle binding it together was nailed on the door to ram into it instead of using one’s knuckles to knock.
Waiting for the noise of someone approaching, Dark stood with his back straight and his hands folded in front of him with a grip that could squeeze the life out of a man easily. When no noise or other form of response came, Dark knocked again, slightly harder than before.
His patience, that from the start had been running low, was almost gone now and Dark was surely going to destroy the big wooden door in front of him at any second if Anti didn’t come out of his hiding right this second!
Seconds passed and finally Dark’s demon ears that heard thrice as much as human ones, heard the sounds of something soft being dragged across the floor like a carpet being moved or someone walking with slippers on.
Tensing and straightening his back, Dark let his emotions control him and let the anger calm him, it felt like a security blanket being pulled over him protecting him so even amidst all the stress and betrayal he felt only the calm sharpness of fury.
All his speeches, all his accusations, all his anger, all his demands were forgotten the moment Anti opened the door.
Anti’s usually happy and energetic way of moving his body was gone, replaced by sluggish movements and small gestures with shaking hands, his smile was now a face mixed with confusion and misery, his usually ruffled hair was stiff instead of curly and his face and body smelled of blood and sweat like he hadn’t showered since their battle against the demon hunters.
Darks heart broke, it felt physical and he had to restrain himself greatly to not put his folded hands up to his chest and clench it to ease the pain.
They stood there for some time just staring at each other with pained expressions clear on both their faces. Anti opened and closed his mouth many times until he finally could make a sound from his sore throat. “What are you doing here?”, his voice sounded so full of despair like someone asking the reaper their last question before their inevitable fate would hit them.
The despair in Anti’s voice made Dark distracted and his brain took longer than usual to take in and understand Anti’s words. When he registered them he was sure he heard wrong, why was he here? Where else would he go? Dark thought to himself confused over the question.
Damien and Celine were just as confused and couldn’t make out the wanted answer to give Anti explaining why they were here. There was so much to say.
“Where else would I go?” Dark answered, his voice breaking with tears that followed.
“Oh no don’t cry, oh god this is all my fault” Anti’s tired voice became desperate, he stepped out of the door frame and quickly wrapped Darks body in his arms holding him tight while Dark cried silent tears that rolled down onto Anti’s dark green t-shirt still covered in old blood.
Without words Anti gestured them both inside the big house, closing the door softly behind them. Dark wiped his tears away hurriedly when Anti’s back was turned and took his jacket off hanging it on the old fashioned clothing hanger to his right.
Anti looked at his changed behaviour, and with a soft smile gestured with a glint of humor in his eyes to his own body and clothes, trying to say to Dark that he was safe with him and wouldn’t need to keep up with appearances. He could join Anti in looking wrecked any time he felt like it.
The tension wasn't gone but after that small humorous moment both the demons’ minds were soothed slightly.
Now more at ease Dark got a chance to look around the entry room, hopefully Anti would give him a tour.
The entry hall was smaller than Dark would have guessed when first seeing the house’ size, it felt comfortable while being small but not cramped.
On the side of the walls were a big mirror to the right and shoe holders to the left where four pairs of shoes were currently carefully arranged. The clothing hanger was apparently only for coats and jackets because over the shoe rack a broad wooden sort of platform that came out from the wall was made to hold helmets and purses while also providing the opportunity to hang the guests’ umbrella or parasol on the bent edges. It was a creative design and when asked, Anti informed Dark that it was his own idea.
With a rough voice that came from not speaking for long periods of time Anti gestured for Dark to follow him around so he could show Dark around the first floor. Dark was happy to obey even if he was a little disappointed he wouldn’t get the full tour of the house.
Going through a door to the left of the hall they were in, the two of them entered a living room with windows covering all of the left wall facing the big garden, it was a beautiful site and Dark was entranced for long seconds before he registered Anti’s voice speaking, explaining how he had got the idea to place the windows there and how long it had taken him back in the days when he had built them into the wall, and about the struggle when he looked for windows big enough.
Dark stopped the automatic response ready on his tongue for a second, had Anti just said he had placed them there himself?
“Did I hear you correct when you stated you built the windows yourself?” Dark asked curiously with no disbelief at all in his voice, Anti looked at him strangely but with his eyes relaxed that meant it was a fond look.
“I built everything myself, I found the house abandoned some years ago in complete disarray. I installed electricity, water and fixed everything not working properly. After that I fixed the floors and walls, painting them and creating new ones if the wood was too old. At last I started decorating and now I think 5 years later, it’s done” Anti sounded proud of his accomplishments and Dark could clearly understand why, his soulmate and his accomplishments were amazing.
Dark must have looked wrong in the face because Anti’s proud look slowly turned embarrassed, Dark hurried to asure Anti that his silence was not from disbelief or other negative thoughts along the lines, but from the sheer shock of Anti’s abilities and willpower.
“You’re amazing, I mean, it’s amazing what you accomplished” Dark said with red cheeks, “I can’t help but wonder why you would start such a big task, I love the results but what made you start in the first place?”, Anti looked out the windows at the garden with a distant look, “I started repairing it because of” Anti paused, “You”
“Me?”
“Well because of my soulmate, i had almost given up hope of ever founding them but then i found the house and said too myself that when i meet my soulmate this is were we would live” he paused with tears in his eyes now, “what a stupid idea right?”
If Dark had any anger left inside him before Anti’s outburst, it was definitely gone now, “I would still love to live here with you”. Dark admitted in a quiet tone.
His words were true, Dark loved the place he was living in currently but the thought of living in this beautiful and graceful mansion with his soulmate made Dark happy just thinking about it, the mansion was close to the city but not close enough for demon hunters or other obstacles to bother the two of them.
“If the other rooms are just as beautiful as this one, I would love to live here. And I see you keep your garden well maintained just like I would do, the flowers are truly pretty”, every compliment was spoken with truth but Anti’s face was full of disbelief.
“Stop lying to me, don’t look at me like you mean it, I know it’s impossible for you to love a creature like me, I'm a monster. Don’t break my heart more than it’s already broken” Anti was crying now, cursing rapidly to himself while trying to cover his eyes with his arm.
“What do you mean darling? Of course I want to live here with you, if it’s my love you're doubting then I'm sure you are misjudged, I love you and”, “STOP LYING TO ME!” Dark’s rambling of sweet nothings came to a stop when Anti’s yell interrupted, his tears now coming from frustration and not the sadness doubt had brought with it.
“You are lying to me to gain my trust, you want to lock me up and experiment on me now that you have seen my true form, I will fight you if I have too. I will kill you if it’s necessary to avoid being locked up” Anti had stood up straight and now looked down at Dark, his eyes shining with fury, a facade hiding his inner fear.
“How can you say such things, accusing me of doing something so horrible and so” Dark searched for the right words, “so human! I would never in my life do something so horrible to you” When Dark saw that Anti still somehow didn’t believe his words he spoke hurriedly again.
“I don’t know what i saw, I need you to explain it to me because I can’t believe it’s something that would make me do something so horrible as leave you”, the auras around Dark flickered, intensifying the look of desperation and urgency on Dark’s face.
Anti sighed, sat down on the nearby sofa and with the energy burning out of him, cuddled into the pillows behind him as if they could shield him from what he thought to believe was Dark’s cutting words.
The tension between them was uncomfortable. Dark sat down at the other end of the soda and held his hands tightly in his lap to not give his nervousness away with the brushing of hands while Anti was looking behind him out of the windows, probably searching for the right words.
On the small coffee table in front of them a pile of letters laid spread, not leaving any space for anything else.
Curious and desperate to lead his attention elsewhere then at Anti, Dark reached out to grab one of the letters. Anti’s eyes were still turned away towards the garden and even with his good hearing he didn’t hear the sound of a letter being picked up because he was so lost in thought.
Dark saw the envelope was already open, he took the letter out of the envelope and started to read.
To Rosemary, my beloved
The birds are building their nests now, the seasons are changing. I look out from my window writing this and idiotically hope we can build our own home soon just like the carefree birds. Saving up money is taking more time than I anticipated and it is with a heavy heart that I write to you my dear and say I am going to need another 6 months to earn enough money for the two of us.
Even apart my heart is with you, even with quarrels and misunderstandings and obstacles like these my heart will always be with you, don’t give up hope but know i love you.
Yours, Anthony.
Dark blinked, the words of Anthony sinking in, “don’t give up hope but know i love you”, those words made him think of Anti and his own situation, they loved each other so much, so why were they creating this distance and anger between them? Dark thought helpless.
Silently Dark slipped the letter back into the envelope and placed it where he had taken it from on the coffee table.
Finally after time that dragged out for what seemed like hours, Anti spoke. “I am the third demon ever to have new powers.” Taking a deep breath to calm himself Anti continued, “I knew from the start that if anyone would find out about my powers they would lock me up or worse, experiment on me. That’s why I choose to live my life so secluded and antisocial, maybe that’s the reason we met so late, because I wouldn’t go out and meet new people”
Anti’s tendency to blame himself was worth noticing and Dark told himself to bring it up later and address the problem, how could such a perfect being believe himself so unworthy?
Dark looked down at his hands to hide the concern and tears in his eyes, imaging what a burden it must have been to walk with such a secret through all of one’s life was devastating just thinking about and Dark couldn’t help but feel deep pity for his soulmate even if he knew that pity was no good for Anti.
“So the green pixels and the weird glitching I saw and somehow stopped is a part of your powers?” Dark asked with a neutral voice, it was best to keep emotions out of his voice for now he thought to himself. “Well yes, it’s a glitch like you said but they don’t do anything I know of, they just hurt” Anti answered with a harsh voice remembering all the pain those so-called glitches had brought him.
“If i recall what i have been told by stories and friends correct, a demon with new powers have one big power or many small new powers, there must be more of the small powers for you then”
“Technically that assumption is wrong, we don’t have either one big power or many small powers, we have a theme if you could call it that, mine is electricity. The other two demons’ themes were nature and telekinesis, I would be happy to remind you of the stories though I like them alot.” Anti couldn’t stop himself from sharing his joy of the stories about the two demons that had shared his troubles.
Dark chuckled a fond laugh seeing Anti’s face change from sad to overjoyed when Dark mentioned the old stories of the two demons known to have made new powers, it made sense Anti would know a lot about them Dark thought to himself, bitter that he missed such an obvious connection.
“If you don’t mind I would rather hear about you then those before you” seeing Anti’s disappointed face Dark rushed to assure him that he of course would want to hear the stories another time when perhaps the two of them were a bit more at ease.
“So you are planning on staying, you have to if you want to hear the stories and myths of the demons before me” Anti faked a laugh and confidence to appear more at ease while in truth his heart was in his throat. “Well of course I'll stay.” Dark answered quickly.
Anti smiled brighter than Dark thought possible with delight. “Thank you”
Now more comfortable and way more at ease Anti told almost all about his powers and life. He told Dark about the day he first discovered the electricity coming out from his hand where he burned his hair. He told him about the lonely and secluded life he had lived through, waiting for his soulmate to come and save him and, surprising himself, Anti also told Dark about his killing sprees in the poor area of the city and was revealed when instead of disgusted Dark was interested and impressed in the more gruesome lifestyle of his soulmate.
Without Dark noticing, both Celine’s and Damien’s auras had grown bigger around him, they did so when Dark was at ease and comfortable because it made it easier for all of them to share one mindset. “Now that I told you almost everything I think is important for me to share and for you to hear. Can you tell me about those clouds that always seem to follow you around?” Anti’s curiously questioned.
Dark’s face blanked. His silence was met with Anti’s curious eyes searching the auras around him like he could see the answers there if he looked long enough. “You don’t have to tell me but it's just that I never seen a shadow demon before and I want to know if your clouds are all the same colour”, Dark’s worrying thoughts turned into confusion hearing Anti’s explanations.
Anti had indeed just mentioned he had been very antisocial and secluded from the rest of the world but to such a degree he had never seen a shadow demon before was unbelievable, shadow demons were the most common demons of all for crying out loud!
Dark was about to laugh at Anti, to expose his bad joke but stopped himself quickly when he looked at Anti a second time, his soulmate looked childishly excited and in truth deeply curious.
Deciding to risk embarrassing himself, Dark tried in his most gentle way to explain to Anti the common traits and abilities of shadow demons and why his aura wasn’t one of them, Anti still used the words “clouds” which were really annoying, but Dark chose to ignore it not wanting to correct Anti and risk making him feel inferior
It was hard keeping up with Anti’s many questions but after what could easily have been an hour Anti’s questions were finally running out. Dark hinted that he maybe was a little bit hungry or perhaps just thirsty for a cup of tea, Anti took the hint and invited him into the kitchen.
The kitchen was cozy and had warm colors with plants placed randomly around.
The counters were wooden with a modern refrigerator and old oven placed in between them. The sink was placed below the window and the trash can under it. In the middle of the room and in front of the counters was a big and high table where you could use the place to cut things or sit at the high stools placed on the opposite side of the table. It was both pretty and practical at once, Dark loved it.
The walls were a light green with wooden shelves placed highly over the counters where bottles and other kitchen things stood such as jars filled with all kinds of seasoning, though Dark saw many of his favourites missing, if he lived here that would quickly change. Shocked by his own forward thinking, Dark shaked his head and looked around again.
While Dark was admiring the kitchen and how smart it was built, Anti was boiling water to their tea and coffee. When Dark had wished for tea Anti had given him a strange look almost like disgust, but still agreed to find something for him.
Letting the comfortable but anticipating silence wash over them Anti and Dark stood opposite of each other with their warm drink in hand, Dark took small sips of his tea enjoying the taste while Anti would drink his coffee like it was water not caring for the taste or hotness that could burn his tongue.
When Dark caught Anti’s eyes on him more than one he would smile, always getting a small smile back. When Dark licked his lips to taste the tea, Anti would pretend not to notice.
It was Anti that broke the silence, his coffee wasn’t finished but his curiosity couldn’t stand not knowing any longer.
He asked, interested about the clouds behind Dark, demanding an answer this time.
Dark panicked, all his inner alarms were ringing. He knew deep down that he wanted to share this massive secret with someone other than WIlford that had been a part of the whole mess that made Dark like he was now in the first place.
“They’re not clouds, they’re souls” Dark said, surprising Anti greatly, “did you kill them? Anti questioned on, which was fair enough considering both of their hobbies and Darks job taken into consideration. Dark laughed a little and when he answered that no he didn’t kill the souls trapped inside him, Anti pouted in disappointment, which just made Dark laugh even more.
“No I didn’t kill them, but they did die.
The body of the man I would consume when it was my time to be born as a demon was corrupted by their souls, forcing me along with the dead body to awaken from the death and share this brain with them” Dark said, taking a deep breath and a long sip of his warm tea, he continued, “They are siblings, one man and one woman, and they were both very near to Wilford”
“So you share a mind with the siblings?” Anti asked for Dark to confirm, “Yes, explained easily that’s how it works”
It wasn’t necessary for Dark to mention those factors at last about Wilford, but he felt it was useful to avoid specific encounters like a jealous boyfriend in the future. Mentioning the souls were siblings wasn’t relevant at all either but Dark itched for someone to talk about the confusing thoughts that came with being embodied by a feminine soul alongside a masucline one. He knew Anti wouldn’t understand, but if he at least he would try it would help, Dark thought, sure in his soulmate’s abilities to be there for him when needed.
Anti’s curiosity was both adorable and terrifying, Dark had never opened up to anyone in his life before. The souls inside him that shared both thoughts and opinions with him seeing Anti so invested in him, was a completely new experience for them all. They weren't quite sure of how to react.
“What’s their names?” Anti questioned.
Dark was touched over the question, the fact that Anti saw the souls as beings and not just a magical power or even something worse, like a thing, made his heart warm, “the red aura represent Celine, Wilford’s fiance and the blue represent Damien, Wilford’s best friend”
Anti said hello to both of the auras and even though it looked ridiculous seeing him speak into thin air, it was also the most touching moment shared between them to date.
The auras grew wider and bigger whenever Anti’s gaze fell on them or he asked about them. Anti’s actions were slowly turning the whole room a mix of red and blue.
Dark was maybe the only one with a blush showing but he definitely wasn’t the only one affected by Anti’s sweet words and gestures. Damien that had always acted like the logical and more stoic part of their shared thoughts was now unable to make any sense, only the praises of Anti was on his mind.
Celine on the other hand was much more shy then Dark had ever felt her be and it made him uncomfortable to expose himself and her like that. Dark and the others weren’t shy, they were fierce and strong willed, being like this was a new territory and to be honest Dark wasn’t sure he liked it, but at the same time he wasn’t sure he hated it either.
Celine that had always been his rock, was now soft like candy floss. Without even realising it Dark was now standing more slouched than before, unconsciously causing himself to appear more feminie by being slightly smaller in height than Anti.
When he discovered his unconscious doings he straightened up fast and scoffed at himself for being so foolish and disgusting, thinking that it would be safe to let that side of himself show to another demon was revolting.
It was clear Anti wasn’t the most observant but when Dark straightened his bag like a child would do when their mother discovered them slouching down in their chair, it was safe to say Anti noticed quickly and as always, he commented on it, “what scared you, if it’s not the thought of actually moving in here”, Anti said choosing to make a light joke out of the situation trying to ease the atmosphere.
“No of course not, I have no doubt I want to move in with you. There is, - it’s something else entirely, don’t you worry” Dark answered, whispering his words like they were forbidden.
Anti’s curiosity mixed with concern seeing what his small question did to Dark’s demeanour.
It was clear that it was a sensitive subject, one Anti perhaps shouldn’t interrogate Dark about, but like many times before, Anti’s curiosity got the better of him and he decided to question Dark about it, completely ignoring the already tense atmosphere between them.
Dark was torn, he was extremely uncomfortable but at the same time saw that this was one of the few chances he would ever get to explain himself. He wanted to tell Anti, his soulmate, but his fear was getting the best of him.
Before Dark could decide on what to do Anti interrupted him, “if it wasn’t obvious already just know that i’ll accept and help you with anything”, Anti was blushing fierce, “just not paperwork, that’s your job” Anti joked to make his serious words seem like less of a big deal then they both knew it was.
Dark finished his tea and with a loud noise put it hard down on the counter he was leaning on. “It may noy seem like a big deal that Celine, the red aura, is a woman, but for me and also for her it is.” Dark spoke harshly and quickly as if he wanted his words to go unheard or sound so aggressive Anti would drop the subject.
Anti confirmed he heard Dark’s words with a small noise, “can you be more specific, like why is it a big deal. Why should it be a big deal which gender those clouds, I mean souls, are?” Anti asked, confused at Darks behaviour.
Dark felt devastated, how could he possibly explain all of his confusing thoughts and feelings, that he didn’t even understand himself?
“The souls are not just a part of me, they’re…” Dark paused and breathed out, “me”
Anit looked even more confused, “they’re you?” and when Dark didn’t answer Anti spoke again, “how?” he asked with an inviting tone.
“Well we share thoughts, feelings sometimes too” Anti nodded but didn’t seem to get the idea so Dark continued, “it’s like having two voices inside of your head telling you things, sharing things and feelings with you. We’re one being but their still souls, they still have different emotions and thoughts” Anti nodded again but this time with an understanding sound that made Dark relax, perhaps it wasn’t so bad sharing this part of himself after all he thought, a slight blush was quickly forming on his grey skin.
Not thinking of his words at all Anti blurted out his thoughts. It was a sentence that Dark had expected, but wished to unhear right the moment it left Anti’s mouth. He didn’t know why it hurt so much but the assumption was repulsive.
“So you’re a woman?”
Dark couldn’t allow the hurt to control him, so he did what he was best at and distanced himself from any emotions other than anger, letting the souls inside him take complete control.
Damien’s cunning ways of manipulation and harsh words mixed with Celines anger was already a dangerous combination but added with the hurt, confusion and betrayal from all of them nothing could stop them.
Dark didn’t care how cruel he had to be, Anti was going to pay. Mercy was a fool's wish and Dark was prepared to shed blood and bones for the sake of hurting the one who wronged him even if it was someone dear to him.
If his cup had still been in Dark’s hand, it would have fallen to the ground and broken into tiny sharp pieces of porcelain, maybe Dark could have picked up one of the bigger and sharper pieces using it to cut a straight and deep line on Antis neck, right over the forever infected yellow and gross scar already there.
But unfortunately he wasn’t holding the cup anymore, and unfortunately all of the well kept knives Anti had a fondness of wasn’t in his reach so he was without anything sharp other than his claws.
When entering Anti’s house, Dark had been in his human form. Normally in the presence of another demon he, like many others, still used his human form, a demon showing their true form was a big thing and only occured in fights, formal parties or in front of their mates.
Dark wanted to be in his true form around Anti, but their relationship was so strained, jumping from close and caring to venomous in a matter of seconds all the time, so with a heavy heart he had decided against it.
Now he transformed. The familiar feeling was pleasing and calming him.
It felt like he was preparing for a battle, all of his muscles tensed as if he were to defend himself or attack someone at any second and his senses became heightened. His fury alongside with the souls' anger and betrayal made Dark feral, he wanted to jump on Anti with all of his power and rip the heart out of him to see the living organ slowly stop beating and the blood rushing out from the wound, confirming his kill.
Damien made him wait. Mentally holding him bound to the counter, his hands gripping it so tight that his claws made marks in the wood, Damien wanted Anti to finish transforming himself and perhaps have a chance to speak.
It made things more interesting. Damien's favourite parts of battles were the dialog, the brutal words and vulnerable people with their dangerously affected minds filled with emotions just waiting to be picked apart by smart and cruel comments.
You could break someones back easily with the right amount of strength, but breaking someone's mind was harder, way harder. Damien loved the challenge of it.
Restraining Celine and Dark was hard but Damien was determined enough to do it, and watching Anti’s face of surprise was a delight.
Anti was staring with an open mouth, speechless. He had seen Dark in his true form before but never the actual transformation. It was like nothing he had ever seen before, he wouldn’t call it beautiful even though it resembled grace. It was magnificent, seeing how Darks body changed and how his behaviour changed along with it.
He embodied confidence and power, just looking at him Anti wanted to submit to the demon in front of him and he hated himself for it. Dark stood proud with his horns looking like a crown, he was majestic.
Standing with his arms crossed, Dark puffed his chest out to appear bigger, the power running through him only boosted his confidence along with the look of fear and admiration from Anti, his tail was swinging slowly behind him making small whizz sounds when it smacked the air. Just because he could, he smacked Anti’s cup still full of coffee that stood behind Anti causing the coffee and sharps og porcelain to hit Anti.
The loud noise snapped Anti out of his zoning, he became aware of the threat in front of him and he prepared himself for the unstoppable attack from his mate.
He was devastated inside, Anti knew he had done something wrong of course but the reason was unclear for him, Anti felt like a disappointment, first leaving his mate because of his own self pity and somehow got a second chance that he now had screwed up.
Anti’s head was a mess. His emotions were contradicting each other and his thoughts filled with memories, accusations and questions. The first time he met Dark and the first time he kissed him Anti thought that everything would be alright and that maybe his perfect match actually were perfect, but now standing in front of Dark, a demon that looked so different then the one he had used the latest months to get to know, Anti only felt a depressing amount of despair.
Dark smirked and Anti knew from seeing it that he would attack. When Dark jumped at him with black and sharp claws like his own Anti hurried to the side, causing Dark to stumble into the counter Anti was leaning against knocking multiple ingredients stored in glasses and plastic cans over.
One of Darks claws lightly scratched Anti’s skin because he wasn’t fast enough, wincing Anti turned around as fast as he could and grabbed Darks outstretched arm and teleported them both into the big garden of the house.
Anti was no expert in teleporting other people than himself so the garden was as far as he could take them. Looking around at the perfectly healthy and beautiful garden he had spent years on that was now in great danger of being destroyed any second now, Anti breathed deeply and with remorse spread his wings out, ready to fight his soulmate.
“I will not have you destroying my home, our home!” Anti yelled, outraged at Dark, how dare he lie about his want to move in when all he wanted was to destroy Anti’s hard work? Anti was furious, all of his life he had looked forward to a place to live with his soulmate and the past few years had only been about building the house and getting it ready for himself and his future soulmate to move into. The house was more important to him than anything else and the danger that Dark portrayed toward it was making him see more red than the flickering aura behind Dark.
They stood in front of each other, Anti with his back to the house and Dark with his back to the flower-rich part of the garden, both in their true form, Anti had his wings spread out to their full length making him look like the vengeful angel and protector that Dark had always seen him as.
Dark stood tall, looking down at Anti like it was second nature, the red aura around him was chaotically moving in all ways at once causing half the side of Dark and everything around him on that side to appear blurry while the blue aura was steady and calm slowly seeking towards Anti. When the blue aura got too close, Anti jumped out of his way avoiding touching it, he was afraid of what the blue soul could do to him if he underestimated it.
Dark attacked quickly, one moment he had been in front of Anti standing still with his tail swinging swiftly behind him, the next he was behind Anti with a claw raced over his head ready to slash it down and rip Anti’s skin up. Anti felt the air shift behind him and managed to move out of the way, but moving caused Dark’s sharp claw to catch some of Anti’s wing instead. The claw ripped off countless feathers. The pain of the feathers detaching from his wing was brutal. Anti screamed, his voice shocking Dark, causing him to take a step away .
Losing control in his panic, Anti’s other wing began flopping hurriedly like it was trying to carry him away and when Anti in his pained and dissoitainted state realised he couldn’t fly it was like a blanket of iron wrapped around him and he felt to his knees unable to stand up any longer.
It wasn’t hope he found deep in his mind to help him stand up and fight, it wasn’t anger either. It was realization.
Anti was fighting his soulmate. His soulmate that hated him and wanted him dead.
Long ago he had considered it himself, dying that is. Why live when he hasn't found his soulmate? He asked himself that exact question all those years ago and now he repeated the question to himself with a new sense of clarity, why live when your soulmate hates you?
It was obvious that he would be dead by the end of the day, by his own hands or the demon in front of him Anti wasn’t sure of yet, but the fact was still clear. He would die by the end of the day.
So why not fight with everything he got? It was his last chance before leaving this world after all Anti thought, now determined to keep on fighting.
Standing up Anti shot a glance at Dark and with an inward smirk breathed out and summoned all the electricity he could feel around him into his body, he was able to drag it all the way from the city that was miles away from where they stood in the beautiful garden.
When he felt like he had reached his limit, the electricity was itching under his skin looking for a way to get out, but it was being kept inside where Anti had full control over it, his head was filled with a loud buzzing noise so loud he couldn’t hear anything else. At this point he should have stopped but Anti kept drawing more electricity from the city even when every one of his instincts begged him not to.
At last it was too much, he opened his shut eyes and met his soulmates red and blue eyes and with his best attempt at a cocky smile Anti released all the electricity in his body towards Dark. It was as loud as an explosion, the blinding light of the electricity looked as bright as lightning and made both the demons shut their eyes tight.
When the electricity reached Dark, he thought for a split second he would be fine when he felt nothing when the electricity reached him, but Dark’s hopeful thought was proven wrong when the pain hit him in every part of his body, the electricity and the enormous amount and power of it, hit all his muscles right at the core, he went down with a scream stuck in his throat that was too painful to release, silently he spasmed in pain and cried his eyes dry.
The auras around him shrunk and became almost invisible as if they had disappeared, only a demon's eyes could see the flicker of the two auras close to Darks body.
Caught in his own world of pain and misery, Dark didn’t notice or hear Anti’s scream. The electricity had burned his body all over, his legs to weak to stand on, collapsed under him and his hands that covered his head in anguish smelt of burned flesh and the small pieces of flesh that was so loose they fell into his open mouth, tasted of iron from the blood he had lost, it would take a miracle for his hands to ever heal again but the thought didn’t even cross his mind because the only thing he could think of was the feeling pain, all other senses was gone.
When Anti’s legs stopped spasming in pain he could distantly feel the remaining grass that hadn’t been burned as badly as the rest underneath him.
Slowly removing his burned hands from his head Anti blinked slowly and when his vision returned it was only half-like. Green pixels were all around him no matter which way he turned his head they were right in front of him, small gaps in between the small pixels allowed him to see the broken figure of Dark close to him, laying on the ground completely still.
Anti tried to stand, to walk over to his soulmate, but his legs wouldn’t cooperate and he collapsed, a whine of pain and desperation left him. He slowly laid down, he couldn’t feel his body fully, it was as if it was present but out of reach. Anti stretched out his arms, slowly crawling towards Darks' still figure, while sharp bursts of pain hit him with every move of his limbs.
Countless minutes where time had flown past and stilled randomly, sometimes the time went fast and Anti could see how he was getting closer to his soulmate and other times it felt like he was crawling up a mountain so high he couldn’t see the top.
What Anti was unaware of because of the many pixels clouding his view, was that Dark knew he was coming crawling, Dark was laying still breathing slowly to not hurt his body too much while he listened to Anti’s groan of pain, wishing for him to be near as soon as possible.
Dark had laid still for a long time and it had given him time to think. There was a lot to think about and in the first long stretched minutes laying down in the grass filled with pain he had no control over his thoughts and it was a mess of his, Damien’s and Celine’s thoughts fighting over control to be heard, it was chaos and had provided him a headache quickly which still hasn’t disappeared.
After his thoughts had slowed down, Dark could finally have a somewhat peaceful conversation with himself. Celine and Damien were for once on the same side agreeing with each other. The anger and all the fury so present and consuming from before was gone along with the slow wind blowing on his face, the grass tickled his skin and Dark sighed slowly feeling content with himself like he hadn’t before.
The electricity had been so powerful that Dark couldn’t feel anything other than the pain. When his body calmed down and the pain became less it was quiet in his mind. The experience of his calm mind had been scary but welcomed. He talked and listened to Celine and Damien, he felt his emotions and feelings more deeply when they slowly returned to him and when Anti’s exhausted breath was near him he felt ready to talk, to open up.
He just hoped Anti was ready too.
Anti’s hand clutched Dark upper leg hard, using the leg to pull his body forward, Anti landed clumsy close to Dark, that made a loud groan of pain from Anti’s hard grip on his leg.
They were both lying down. Dark was lying on his back with his legs outstretched and his arms lazily crossed over his chest with his albues touching the ground, while Anti was laying with his head half a meter from Darks hip on his stomach supporting his head with his arms folded under it, his eyes turned forward to stare at Darks face.
Anti wanted to talk but was afraid his voice would be too grouf or weird. Dark wanted to talk but didn’t know where to start. Seconds turned into minutes while Anti stared up at Dark, that laid calmly waiting for Anti to speak.
Breaking the silence turned out to be Anti’s doing, he couldn’t keep silent for long which greatly pleased Dark who often felt that saying the right words was difficult for him. Having someone like Anti to fill the silence with words no matter how important they were was nice. Even now that Dark was more at peace with the souls inside him and their cruel words had become less common he was still alert, and perhaps afraid, of the silence
“How much did it hurt?” Anti asked with no emotion clear in his voice, Dark considered the question briefly, “emotional or physical?” His sharp words seemed to clear up some thoughts in Anti’s mind who raised his head up from his arms and looked surprised at Dark.
“I meant physical, but that question concerns me. What could possibly have made you feel emotionally hurt?”
If it wasn’t for the peace within himself and the soft but very unpleasant pain in his arms and legs, Dark would have punched his soulmate’s pretty face with all the force he normally had leaving an ugly blue and purple mark. Fortunately for Anti, Dark didn’t punch him but instead sighed deeply and with an eyeroll tried to find the right words.
When Dark took too long to explain himself Anti questioned further, “how did i hurt you angel, i want to make it up to you” Anti opened up and told Dark with love clear in his eyes. “Are you aware of the fact that calling a demon ‘angel’ is offensive?” Dark said with a teasing tone that went completely over Anti's head that started sputtering apologies quicker than a man caught in his neighbours bed.
“I’m just kidding dear” and just like that the atmosphere became comfortable between them.
Anti collected the last courage within him and with a careful pace started to slowly crawl up closer to Dark. When the grey demon did nothing to stop him Anti inched closer until he finally had his head, still resting on his arm, right besides Dark’s.
Hating to pick apart the comfortable silence but wanting to open up and get Anti to understand what was tearing Dark up from the inside and out, Dark was screaming at himself and his stupid dilemma.
Anti must have sensed his distress because his small smile turned from warm and carefree to one of support suddenly. “I want you to tell me..angel. When did I go wrong?” Anti’s voice and words were said without self pity, Anti wanted to know what he had done, but he didn’t regret or felt ashamed of his wrong doings, because he didn’t even know what they were.
Dark didn’t know whether to hate or love Anti for those thoughts. On one hand he wanted Anti to feel ashamed for saying something so offensive and on the other hand Dark thought it was brave and inspiring that Anti didn’t stand against his mistakes but welcomed them.
Putting his thoughts aside, Dark began slowly explaining his thoughts and alongside those explanations, he also shared his emotions and feelings of both the past and the present.
It had all started at that simple question, one that he also had expected, so why did it go so wrong from there on?
He explained slowly, without looking at Anti’s face, about his overreaction to the simple question. The assumption of being a woman shouldn’t offend him, but he had for many years used all his time, energy and thoughts on trying to clear up his head to decide and understand what he identified as and who he was.
In the end it was clear to him that no matter the gender of the souls he shared a body with, he was indeed male, he felt at ease when he discovered and got comfortable with the label and the bad days where all he wanted was to rip his own skin off and tear his thoughts apart with a knife so sharp it could slide through anything, became less and less. They were not completely gone but they were more rare.
He told Anti about the bad days and how they affected him, Dark shared the confusing and personal ways his mind worked and laid himself open for Anti to see, it was hard to allow so much trust into a person but Dark was getting more and more comfortable for every word that left his mouth and the love for his soulmate only grew stronger and alongside with it, the trust in him.
Slowly Anti began to understand. It was hard to allow new thoughts and ideas to plant roots in his mind. It was amazing to hear the complicated person Dark truly was, it was fascinating to hear the way his mind worked. Anti stared in awe at Dark and in those slow moments came to terms with his own confusing thoughts. Big relief washed over him that felt warm like Darks kisses and hot summer days.
When all he could muster to say was said and explained, Dark finally let his head turn and his eyes met Anti’s, he wasn’t expecting eyes full of love to stare back at him and he let out an embarrassingly small sound of surprise.
The laugh Anti made was worth his own embarrassment. Dark thought happily to himself.
“Does this mean I can finally see you in a dress?”
“Finally?” Dark answered with a teasing smile on his lips.
“Well I saw you eyeing a few and my mind just went places” Anti admitted embarrassed. Dark blushed and whispered into Antis ear, “I would love to show you”
They inched closer to each other until their sore muscles couldn’t be felt over the warmth and affection washing over them coming from the other. Slowly their breaths turned slow and with the sun warming their backs while they warmed each other's front, they fell asleep, finally at ease.
- The end