"You weren't supposed to find out like this." I focused on the monotone, soothing voice of Asmoday as he tried to comfort Dark while walking on eggshells. Bad move on his part. "I'm beginning to think I wasn't supposed to find out at all." he replied, almost spitting with anger. "That's not true." Asmoday replied. Dark looked at me, and if looks could kill, I'd have been cremated on the spot. "What is it with you, anyway? It's like you go out of your way to try to fuck with me." I looked at the floor. "I'm not trying to fuck with anyone." I said. "Leave her out of this. This was my idea. I wanted a change, she let me have it." Asmoday said, standing right behind me. "Cute alliance, but I don't ship you two. Matter fact, sometimes I wonder why I even bother talking to either one of you. Things were better before you, father dearest, and as for you (y/n), you've been off and on shady since we dated." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I looked at Asmoday for reassurance. His eyes said I'm sorry, but his face said I am incredibly pissed off and won't let any bullshit happen. "You have quite a mouth on you." I felt the tension double. "I wonder where you got it from." "Not from you." Dark replied. "You're right. You didn't. I don't talk, I do." Dark smirked. "Are you threatening me?" he asked, almost laughing. "No. Are you looking for a fight?" I pushed Asmoday back. "You two are really scaring me." I said. "Don't be afraid of us." Asmoday said. "I wouldn't hurt you...and I wouldn't let you get hurt." Dark's face darkened considerably. "Are you saying I would?" he asked, sounding absolutely laden with rage. "I'm not saying anything. Talk is cheap, but I find it rather odd how flakey you are. She's your best friend, but you'd turn your back on her this easily?" Dark snorted. "I see what you're doing here. You're baiting me. Nice try, but you're underestimating how smart I am. Look, (y/n), you are on thin fucking ice. I don't trust you two together. I get a bad feeling about the two of you being close...I told you this before and obviously, you've chosen to roll the dice. Fine. When he gets bored with you, don't come crying to me about it. See, one thing I do know about him is that he's an impulsive guy. I suppose I can't blame him...if I had been banished to some wasteland in the middle of bumfuck nowhere for thousands of years, I'd be wanting to try a bit of everything, too...but that attitude mixed with your generous nature is a recipe for disaster. He will get bored...he won't mean to hurt you, but he's going to crush you. Look at him and I. Consider our history...what exactly is it that he did? Said he wanted to get close...spent some time getting to know me, married my mom..." he trailed off. "Speaking of which, what does she think? Did you even ask? You didn't, did you?" Asmoday took a deep breath. "Let's not go there." he said. "Please." "No, let's definitely go there. Matter fact, let's go there first. What's the deal with you and her?" "I really don't think we should go there." Asmoday said, his voice growing stern. "Why not? Fuck it, let's put everything out on the table. You, me, and her. Let's be up front about everything. All the bullshitting stops now...come on, out with it dad." He exhaled slowly. "I haven't told her yet...and as far as we go, we've agreed to stay married, but be friends." Dark chuckled. "I should've known." he said. "And just like that, the impulsive nature of Asmoday strikes again. You motherfucker." "Literally." Asmoday replied. Dark made a face. "Ew." he said. "Look, you have no idea what you want. That's fine, but this...this is bullshit. You have no idea how much she's been through...and you would dare to make it worse?" "We agreed to it." Asmoday said, through clenched teeth. "Ah, and I'm sure she's feeling just fine about it. You come back into her life...you're an old flame she never really got to know, an enigma of sorts. You say you always had feelings for her, but never really expressed them...she takes that to heart, and now those feelings that have lasted for 3/4 of your pathetic existence are just erased? Are you fucking kidding me?" Asmoday breathed slowly. "You are diving into uncharted waters." he said, his tone deep and stern. "I dove into uncharted waters to rescue your ass from the plains. I know uncharted waters, these are not uncharted waters. These are things you just really don't want to speak about. Admit it, you never loved her. She was just a familiar face for you to cling to when I dragged you out of your personal prison." Without another word I watched Asmoday wrap a hand around Dark's throat. "Never question my intentions. You have no idea what you're talking about." he said. I watched trails of black smoke swirl around his body. For the first time, I saw fear in Dark's eyes. Asmoday released him hastily. "You were a pet project that failed miserably and sent me to a dark place for a long time. Still, I loved you. I worried about you. I missed you even though we'd never met. I never blamed you for what happened, but damn near anyone else would have. They'd have hated your guts and regret and resented your existence. After all my suffering I deserve to be impulsive. I deserve to live. I missed out on so much life." I took a step back. "Now, are you sure you want to keep this up? This ridiculous jealousy and petty pissing match..." Dark restored his composure. "I saved your ass. You seem to keep forgetting that." he said. "I'm half the reason you're breathing right now. I think I deserve some respect for that alone." "Respect is earned, Asmoday...and you've done a piss poor job of earning mine." I hated watching the two at each others' throats. I felt responsible. I should've listened to Dark...Asmoday is incredible...and sexy, but...he's a lost soul searching for something I cannot help him find. Or is Dark a bit more immature and emotionally stunted than what he should be? My head ached with the possibilities. "(Y/N), make a choice." Oh no. Don't ask me to pick one, I care about them both. I looked at Dark. "Don't do this to me." I said, my voice cracking. He looked at me more gently. "Don't pressure her like that. You are so manipulative." Dark scoffed. "The two of us are clearly not meant to have a relationship. Trust me, I've tried to have one with you and you keep turning away from it. If she's gonna be tethered to you and spending all her time with you, then there's no need for me anymore. I'll move back in with Mark." I felt my heart rate spike. Move back in with Mark? He would not be pleased about that one bit...and neither would I. "Look at her, you're upsetting her." Asmoday said. "We have to deal with things we don't like sometimes..." The tension quadrupled. "I won't ask her to pick. I'm not that selfish." "Fuck you. You are the most selfish being I've ever had the displeasure of knowing." Asmoday chuckled. "Which time was I more selfish? The time when I sacrificed myself so you could live or the time I ran to your aid whenever you got in over your head despite barely knowing you? Remember Germany? There's a good example." "You never were meant to be a father. Good thing you never were." I felt tears sting my eyes. This is all my fault. These two had their moments here and there, but never like this. I wiped at my eyes and looked for an exit. "I didn't have to be your father. I had an out." "An out?" Dark asked. "I could've backed out of the agreement anytime before you were born. You've gone from son to son of a bitch in record time. I'm starting to wonder if you were worth the suffering." Ouch. I could almost feel the shockwaves of pain radiating off of Dark. I looked at Asmoday. He looked back at me. His emerald eyes weren't sparkling with mischief like they usually were. In fact, he looked downright jaded. I heard something and when I turned to look at Dark, he was gone. I turned my attention back to Asmoday. "That..." "Shh." he said, pulling me against him. "That was fucking ugly...but it needed to happen." I wasn't so sure. "It's all my fault." I said, my voice muffled in his shirt. "No...it's not your fault. Don't say that shit." I took a shaky breath. "Where is he? Is he okay?" "He's fine, just pissed." Asmoday replied. "You love him deeply, and...look, let's just get out of here before anything else happens. Where do you wanna go? I'll take you anywhere in the world." I wanted to stay local. "Find somewhere in LA." I said softly. "I don't want to leave him." He picked me up. "Consider it done." he said. I felt numb and cold. I looked over Asmoday's shoulder to see Dark standing in the doorway looking rather dejected. We locked eyes briefly. He looked like he had something to say. I opened my mouth to call out to him, but he disappeared, leaving me feeling even worse. "You should get some rest, (y/n). You're dead weight in my arms...you need some sleep." How was I supposed to sleep after that. "Would it make you feel better if we talked?" he asked. I nodded. "Fine. When we get where we're going, lay down and I'll tell you everything I know..."
