Chapter Text
Verity is even more suffocating than before… He’s constantly on me and insisting I need help! He was already… not needed anymore before, but now he’s just being desperate. Why couldn’t I have just died? If I tried again… properly… next time, I could finally free myself from him.
Mob side eyes Verity who stood beside him. He’s not even watering it himself, Verity is doing it for him just to be ‘safe’. Verity held the watering can towards the crops. When he notices Mob staring, he smiles softly. Which, in turn, causes Mob to look straight ahead, ignoring his affection.
In thought, Mob wondered if he could get a distraction for Verity to try and leave the base and live elsewhere. He’d still find him, though. So he gave up the thought. Mob sighs, defeated, but not giving up… “I’m going back in…”
Verity places the watering can to immediately walk Mob inside. “I already told you I don’t need your help,” Mob frowned, pulling his arm back.
Verity doesn’t say anything, having already said what he said earlier clearly, so he grabs Mob’s arm again tightly. Mob tries pulling back, but struggles. “What the…?” Mob blinked, distraught from the strength and strong grip on his arm. He glares at Verity and huffs, slouching his way back inside the base.
When they entered the house, Verity leads Mob to the bed and sits him down, crossing his arms, “I didn’t say anything before because you finally spoke… but you need to keep the bandages on so that your stitches are protected.”
“But then I won’t be able to speak properly again!” Mob complained. “You want me to be mute? Huh? I bet you’d like that more, wouldn’t you?” he narrowed his eyes at Verity who loomed over him, having to tilt his head back just to look at him.
Verity doesn’t say anything for a moment. “Mob, this is for your safety. Do I have to keep repeating myself? I keep telling you over and over that I will shield you from any harm,” he said, looking almost sad but mostly protective.
“You made me shoot myself, you know that, right?” he muttered coldly.
Verity seems to flinch at the word ‘you’. His arms drop to his side. Mob raises a brow at his reaction, not able to see his expression as the darkness in the room settled over Verity’s face. Before Mob could react, Verity’s shaky hands grabbed his shoulders, leaning forward with a face full of guilt and remorseful, but there was desperation in it as well. “I’m sorry, Mob. I’m so.. so sorry,” he mumbled, eyes shiny. “I didn’t mean for you to do that. I… I just wanted us to be together.. I never wanted this to happen,” he said, voice shaky. “But now that you’re here, okay… I can’t let anything bad happen to you,” he said, eyes directly looking into Mob’s.
Mob shifts uncomfortably under Verity’s grasp, avoiding eye contact. The corner of his lips twitched back, unsure of what to say. But Verity leans in for a hug, wrapping his arms around Mob. “I will never let you go…” he mumbled into his shoulder, tightening his hold on him. Mob’s pointed ears pick up on that and lower afterwards.
“…Verity, get off me,” Mob’s hand grabbed Verity’s arm. Verity pulls back just enough to look at Mob in the face. He looks disappointed but pulls away. He stands quietly in front of Mob before grabbing the bandages to wrap around Mob’s jaw as promised. Just as Verity’s hands moved toward Mob’s face, he leaned back on instinct. “I don’t need the binding anymore,” Mob insisted.
Verity sighs, tired of this. “Come on, Mob..” he murmured, his hands gripping Mob’s shoulders again just so he doesn’t move away. “Sit still and let me tend to you,” he said gently, looking Mob in the eyes hopefully.
“No! Get away from me!” Mob almost yelled, wincing a tiny bit in response to raising his voice just slightly, a hand reaching up to his jaw but not touching.
Verity’s hopeful eyes turn into concern for Mob. “Oh, Mob..” he whispered, tilting Mob’s head by the side of his jaw. Mob pulls back, but Verity grasps the back of his neck with his left hand, causing Mob to grunt in frustration.
“Whether you want it or not, I’m still putting this on you,” Verity said firmly, his eyes void of… well, emotion. His hands finally began wrapping the bandage around after Mob stopped struggling.
That night, Mob laid on his bed with his mouth covered. If he were to speak, you wouldn’t be able to tell what he’s saying. Verity sat on the crafting table in his ball form, feeling the tension in the air. Mob was mad. Mad at him.
But I was only trying to help… Nothing I do helps or pleases him anymore. Not after that incident…
Mob, I just want to make you happy. To be the one who makes you happy. Not mad. Not… drive you into doing that. I want to go back to when we laughed together, had fun together, and you enjoyed having me around.
Should I try impersonating Twixxel again..? No. Mob didn’t like that. Does that mean he doesn’t like Twixxel anymore?
Verity’s thoughts gets interrupted when Mob shifted around in his bed, sweat dripping down his forehead and brows forming into a frown. He seemed to have a nightmare. Trauma induced nightmares? Whatever it was, Verity still hopped off the crafting table and transformed into his 7ft body. He stood next to the bed, contemplating if he should get in his bed. “This is to comfort him…” Verity quietly told himself as he began climbing onto the bed with Mob, careful not to wake him up even though Mob’s a heavy sleeper.
As he slid under the blanket with Mob, he turned to lay on his right side facing Mob and very slowly wrapped his arms around Mob, pulling him towards him. His left hand reaches over to pet his head full of coily strands. Mob’s pointed ears, that were once pinned back, slowly began relaxing, calming down by Verity’s tender touch. He even stops frowning as much, his breathing slowly becoming even. Verity pulls Mob in a full embrace, placing Mob’s head on his chest as he rested his chin on top of Mob’s head, flattening the hair underneath. Soft, he thought, continuing to comb his hand through Mob’s coils. “Hah…” he sighed. “If only I could hold you like this forever…”
When the morning arrived, Verity was back in his place. Mob? He slept peacefully through the whole night, laying on his bed as if he fell off a 3 story building. When he finally awoke, he sat up on the bed, rubbing his eyes. One of his pointed ears flicked as he got used to the morning sunrise. He says something, but he remembers about the binding immediately after, slumping down.
“Good morning, Mob!” Verity chirped, bouncing once, which was unusually too happy for Mob’s taste. “How’d you sleep?” Verity asked innocently.
Mob scowls, pointing at the wrapping around his mouth.
“You can answer with your thumbs, as well!” Verity smiled joyfully.
He was right, which angered Mob further. He shakes his head, pointing at the wrapping and gesturing with his hands that he wants to rip it off now. Then points at Verity like he knows Verity will stop him from doing it, which is what’s stopping Mob from prying the bandages off. He doesn’t want Verity near him like yesterday.
Verity transforms in his 7ft body and walks toward Mob to take off the restricting binding. “I guess… you don’t one anymore,” Verity said, almost hesitantly as he inspected Mob’s jaw. “The stitches are doing a good job, and there’s mostly a scar now. Just don’t scratch at it,” he instructed.
“I know. I’m not a baby who needs to be taught the most obvious knowledge,” Mob rolled his eyes.
“Better safe than sorry,” Verity smiled softly which Mob hits him with a side eye.
“Well, you’re done with your routine. I’ll be doing my own thing now,” Mob leaned to the side out of Verity’s way and stood up. Verity turns around, watching Mob’s every move. Mob blinks, takes a step forward. Verity takes a step forward beside him, smiling at him like this is normal. “Stop following me,” Mob demanded, taking another 5 steps away from Verity, but Verity just followed him by his side. “Why are you so clingy!” Mob snapped.
“I’m not being clingy. I’m simply guarding you,” Verity responded. Mob stares at him in pure disbelief and despair, hands grabbing at his own hair in frustration to Verity’s response.
“Then stand over there for 5 minutes without being suffocatingly close to me!” Mob ordered, pointing to the corner of the room. Verity blinks, glancing toward the corner and back at Mob, and then chuckles like Mob just told a joke.
“I can’t, that’d be leaving your side,” he tilted his head to the side like it was obvious.
Mob genuinely looks at him like Verity just said the most disgusting shit ever. His hand lifts and pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing, “Verity, why are you so giddy today?” one of his pointed ears flicked in irritation.
“So you’ve noticed?” Verity says, very happy that Mob noticed.
Mob pauses. “It wasn’t subtle either, just so you know,” he muttered.
“But you’re cur—“
“I’m going out… mining,” Mob announced, turning towards the front door. Verity’s smile falters as his hand reaches over to grab Mob’s wrist in a tight grip.
“I’m going with you,” Verity stated, like it’s confirmed Mob’s not going anywhere without Verity. He especially doesn’t trust Mob anywhere alone…
Mob simply narrows his eyes in annoyance before looking ahead, leading.
Soon, they were inside the mines. This wasn’t exactly the place Mob was going to… He had to remain true to what he said after Verity came along. As Mob mined, his eyes kept flicking toward Verity who was standing completely still behind Mob. It creeped him out.
When is he ever gonna give up ‘protecting’ me? It’s ruining my plans. All I want is to get away from him as far as I can.
Mob focuses back on mining. He stands up straight, wiping off sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He stands quietly, seeming to hesitate on something. Finally.. “Verity, where’s the nearest diamonds?” he asked without looking back. Suddenly, he felt Verity get closer. He almost refuses to look to the side where Verity is leaning over his shoulder just to say, “It is 12 blocks ahead of you!” like he isn’t doing anything strange!
“Why are you getting all up on my face?!” Mob stumbled back, holding his pickaxe in front of him.
“I was? Sorry,” Verity apologized, but Mob could sense it, feel in his guts, that it was a faux apology.
I didn’t realize how much I wanted to leave, Mob thought. He pulls the hood of his jacket over his head, as if shielding himself from Verity, before going back to mining 12 blocks ahead. He might get even crazier and lower the chances of my escape… Mob frowns at the thought. Never being able to live without Verity. At least Verity isn’t asking any personal quest—
“Is there anybody in your life I don’t know of?”
Mob freezes and squints his eyes with suspicion. “Why are you asking that all of a sudden? How did that come to mind?” he turned his head toward Verity.
“Just.. curious,” Verity answered.
Mob doesn’t believe that for a FACT. “Sure,” he scoffed, turning away.
Verity notices that Mob doesn’t answer but doesn’t pry.
“Still. I’m glad it’s just us now. We can be together, like I said!” he said excitedly.
Mob grimaces under his hood, but lifts his head from staring at the ground. “Sounds like your fantasy…” he muttered.
Verity’s brows knit together slightly. “Come on.. You only have me now. We have to be together,” he murmured.
Mob stands quietly for a few seconds before sneering. “Hm,” he hummed, pissed.