***DYLAN'S POV***
We teleported to the potion shop and Cupid was quick to get help.
"Molly, we need your help."
She had been sitting behind the check-out counter reading a book written in a language I had never seen before when she looked up and saw how badly injured I was.
"Holy shit Dylan! Are you alright? Eros, what the hell happened?!" She rushed to examine the injuries.
"It was out of my control, he was taken from me," Cupid ran his hand through his hair.
She turned her attention to me, "Who did this? Was it one of those whores that wanted revenge now that Cupid found a lover?!"
I uneasily smiled, "Not really..."
"Regardless of who it was, we came here hoping you had a potion that can be used for healing," Cupid gave Molly a hopeful look.
"You're lucky I just restocked that type of potion yesterday, had I waited longer before making them, you and him would have had to have gone to the hospital, and you know that requires permission from the God council when it's for someone who isn't from around here," she shook her head, "stay here, I'll go get the potion."
"You okay?" Cupid put an arm around my shoulder, looking at me with a sad expression.
"I'm fine. What? You think I can't handle a little pain?" I laughed, even though it hurt a lot.
"Dylan, you were coughing up blood, it is not a 'little pain', plus Alecus is very strong, maybe his powers didn't affect you to its full potential due to the odd fact that most of us with power can't really use it on you, but you're still hurt," he suddenly became serious.
"I know, but I'm okay, I mean it's not like I'm dying," I tried to loosen him up because he looked so stressed, "I'll be okay."
Just then, Molly came back with a vial filled with a green liquid.
"Alright, so you're going to want to drink all of this, I put the perfect amount in the vial so that all your wounds would heal, though you may still have a little scratch here and there," she explained handing me the potion.
"What do I owe you?" Cupid asked her.
"Nothing, think of it as a parting/welcoming/sorry you had to go through this gift," she grinned.
"Thank you, Molly," I smiled at her.
"No problem guys, now leave because Dylan's beaten up appearance is making my customers anxious."
That's when I noticed how many people were sharing concerned glances and keeping their distance.
***
***CUPID'S POV***
"So all she said was to drink the liquid in the vial, but I know from experience that the healing potion tastes disgusting, so I'll bring you some water," I went to go retrieve a glass of water while Dylan made his way to the couch.
Alright, let's try the other potion Molly gave me.
I summoned the paper bag Molly had given me the first time we had gone to her shop when I gave her the arrow.
I mean, I'm only using some of it because I want to know the truth.
I took out the vial that had a clear liquid and poured some of it into his glass of water.
That should be the right amount.
***DYLAN'S POV***
Cupid came back with two glasses of water. "Here," he handed me one of them.
I set it down on the coffee table in front of the couch.
"How bad does it taste?" I questioned him before drinking the mixture.
"It tastes like herbs, but you mostly taste dirt that's why I brought water for you," he explained.
Well, then I guess here goes nothing.
I downed the liquid and immediately felt it come back up.
Shit!
I swallowed it again before my mouth could spit it out.
"Yuck! That was so gross," I coughed. The pain in my body slowly began fading away, and so were the marks.
Wow, this stuff is crazy.
Cupid grabbed my water and handed it to me.
I drank some of it, then placed it back on the table.
Something feels off.
"So, Dylan, were you being honest when you said you could handle the pain?" Cupid randomly asked.
Before I could think of an answer, I responded, "No." It took me a second before I realized that I didn't answer by my own free will. "Wait, I meant y—no—huh? What's this?! I said y—no."
I started panicking inside a little.
I can't say yes verbally! What the hell is going on? Should I tell Cupid?
Cupid gave me a strange look, "So you lied?"
"Yes, it actually hurt tremendously, but I didn't want to worry you even more than you already were." I turned away to hide my mortified face.
What is wrong with me?!
"But I rather you tell me the truth than lie to me, I was worried about you, it's okay to be honest even if it gets me even more concerned," he put his hand on my cheek.
We locked eyes and I suddenly spoke again. "I love you—I mean—well I do, but," I blushed and turned away, "why am I saying these embarrassing things out loud?"
Cupid cupped my face and kissed me, "I love you too," he stared into my eyes.
I put my hands over his wrists, "I should probably take off my sweater it's all full of blood and so is yours," I motioned to his sweater which was beside me, "do you mind putting them in the laundry basket?"
"Sure."
I took my sweater off, then grabbed his sweater and handed them to him. He took them and left.
Okay, it had to be the water, I swear he did something to it. I just need to test it out.
I grabbed his glass and switched it with mine. I poured some of the water from the other glass into the glass he tampered with so that he doesn't notice that it was the one I drank from.
He came back.
"Thanks for the water by the way," I drank some water hoping it would make him drink some of his. To my luck, it worked. "So Cupid, is it true that when you were younger you thought your mom's lipstick was candy so you ate it and ended up with red teeth and an upset stomach?" I asked to see if I was right.
"Whaaat? N—Yes...huh? I mean—Yes, wait..." He looked down at the glass he had drunk from.
So he did tamper with it.
"Not so fun is it Cupid?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Dylan, I didn't mean to pry, it's just that I wanted to know the truth..." He frantically tried to explain.
"Yeah? Well I don't like being forced to do things, it's not right, I'm upset," I crossed my arms.
"I'm sorry!" he pulled me into a hug, "I admit that I did put in a potion that is supposed to make you tell the truth and I shouldn't have gotten it to begin with, so please don't be upset with me, I don't want to sleep on the couch today!"
I laughed, "You're worried about sleeping on the couch?"
"Yes, very worried because I hate sleeping without you, it's cold without you," he hugged me tighter.
"Alright, alright," I mumbled.
"Dylan, do you love me?" Cupid's voice sounded serious.
"Yes, I do," I responded wondering why he suddenly changed emotions.
When is this going to wear off?!
"Do you hate it when I do this?" He whispered in my ear and I immediately pushed him away blushing.
"N—No, but that doesn't mean you can do it, ugh, this is embarrassing!"
He mischievously smiled, "I like it when you're honest, your reactions are cute."
"I'm going to sleep, I don't like that look on your face," I got up and rushed upstairs, but I could hear him following closely behind. When I made it to the room, I tried to shut the door, but he got in the way.
"Dylan, didn't you say I won't be sleeping on the couch?" He innocently smiled.
"Yeah, but you don't want to sleep you want to do something else!" I continued my attempt to close the door.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything you don't like."
"Liar!"
He laughed, "I can't lie right now, the potion wears off in 3 hours."
"What?!"
"Yeah, I thought I told you," he shrugged.
I pushed him out of the way and managed to shut the door, "Sleep on the couch tonight!"
That should teach him. Next time I'll get my own water.
"Hey, if you change your mind, Molly also gave me the steamy romance potion, just say the word, and I'll find a way into the room by force," he shamelessly yelled from behind the door.
"In your dreams!" I shouted.
"I'd like to dream about that," I heard him mumble.
Excuse me?
I went to open the door, he was sitting outside of it.
"You aren't allowed to dream about me, you've lost dreaming privileges," I frowned.
He got up, "If dreams are off-limits, does that mean reality isn't?"
"Huh? N—Y—" I covered my own mouth.
"How about it Dylan? Wanna have some fun tonight?" He whispered in my ear and kissed my cheek.
With my mouth covered, surely I can't answer.
"Did you just nod your head?" He snapped me out of my thoughts.
"What?! N—Yes—shit, wait, I—" he grabbed me by the shirt and pulled me into a kiss.
God damn it, I can never win against him.