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Seam had come to the city years ago; half to run from their past, half to focus on the future. Things as it stood were not that grand.
Seam had learned the trait of healing when they were young but after what happened, their passion for the art was burned out and the magic itself would not come as easily to their hands… What was left of their hands anyways.
They done several odd jobs here and there but it was hard keeping a steady living like this. People tended to not approach them, rather put-off by their appearance. Though they supposed that it wasn’t really surprising… They looked horrible; Stitches and old scars showed on their face, one eye replaced whilst the other was gone completely. They weren’t even that special looking to begin with…
It was… hard.
People either looked upon them with pity or with fear. Seam was not in the mood for either.
After all this time, there was a certain rage and helplessness inside them that humans and monsters alike weren’t able to see exactly but they somehow always knew that something was wrong with them.
Darker yet darker.
Time had not been good to Seam.
Still, they craved a small life for themselves out of the city. They had a small home and worked their odd jobs… Though they were utterly alone; No friends, not even someone to which they would call a friendly acquaintance. There was just the feeling of being disconnected… Adrift.
Not belonging.
It was fitting in a way. They never really felt as if they were “home”. The darkness around them was the only familiar thing which they allowed.
That was until they had met Jevil.
There was a small bar they sometimes went to when the night was late and the silence within their home too intrusive, times when they just needed to get out and do something even if that something wasn’t particularly productive. The bar was dubbed “Grillby’s” and ran by a friendly enough monster, a fire elemental to be exact, who never asked questions though seemed to be near if someone needed to let off steam.
It was a bit ironic really but Seam felt a strange sense of… well it wasn’t really safety but a form of contentment they suppose despite the owner being made of fire. Seam had been burned by fire before yet somehow they felt as if the bartender was a kindred spirit… They felt accepted here.
There were barely any humans who visited here at the very least and everyone tended to leave Seam alone when they just wanted to stare at a glass for an hour or so and eat the unhealthy greasy food. It made them forget all of their other senses save for taste for a short while.
The world was strange and life even stranger. Not that any of it really mattered.
“HELLO HELLO, STRANGER.”
The unusual voice pulled Seam from their thoughts and they turned to look at the strangest Darkner they’ve ever laid eyes on. Before them stood a Nosuit, quite rare in this part of the world, who looked quite impish with their smooth grey-blue skin, bright orange eyes and glowing white hair. Seam could not help but to be temporarily drawn to the calming glow, only then to notice that there were little horns poking out from the locks.
The stranger grinned wide, shark-like teeth glistening beneath his lips. His long, thin tail curled in air for a moment as if in waiting.
The stranger was so bright and happy…
Seam blinks at him for a second before turning around, trying to find the person whom the stranger was speaking to though there was no one else around them.
Their confusion seemed to amuse the stranger all the same. “UEE HEE HEE,” the imp giggled merrily, grin widening more so and magic glowing bright within his eyes. “I was speaking to you to you, stranger,” he informed. “All doom and gloom like a shadow is holding you. Why so miserable, stranger? Today is a day of happiness and cheer!”
“What…?” Happiness and cheer? Seam looked around once more, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“You don’t know don’t know?” the stranger asked, tilting his head from side to side as they spoke. “Ah I’m sorry sorry, my name is Jevil. I can show you show you if you wish.”
Seam couldn’t do much more than blink at the moment. “Show me what?”
“Happiness and cheer of course,” Jevil replied with a wink. “What’s your name?”
Seam thought for a moment about just standing up and leaving though something, they were not sure even themself as to what exactly, kept them back. And they had to admit there was a certain charm to the smaller Darkner.
“Seam. My name is Seam.”
Jevil was the first person they actually spoke to in… How long has it been? Months? Maybe years?
“SEAM!” cheered Jevil, throwing his arms in the air as if he just won the lottery. “A good name good name~! Oh what a wonderful day indeed.” He did a mock bow, offering his clawed hand to Seam. “So will you come with me then, Seam?”
Seam hesitated, staring at the hand. They knew better than to trust the kindness of strangers.
But still…
The imp stood before them, hand still outstretched and waiting. The promise of change…
There were two choices that lay before them. Turn away and refuse the offer, staying where they were and drowning their sorrows in a drink or take the hand and let this strange little Darkner show them… well they weren’t quite sure what the imp had in mind. Though the smile upon the stranger’s face…
Untapped potential.
Could they really expect to gain happiness after all this time?
Seam regarded the hand for a long moment as they considered.
They had known happiness and sadness, grief and heartbreak, warmth and cold… and deep petrifying terror. There was pain and tears, night where they had screamed themselves raw and cried themselves dry. Yet… that coat of darkness and misery never felt so uncomfortable as it did in this very moment.
A quick glance back up revealed a emotion they were all too familiar with in Jevil’s eyes.
Fear.
Still, the imp continued to smile. A darkness underneath the bright light that enveloped them, shining like a jewel which Seam had a hard time resisting.
What was courage in the end but fear that had been overcome?
Seam felt themself reach out for the hand, attracted to the hidden darkness as much as to the shining light. “Alright.”
Jevil laughed as he pulled Seam to their feet and lead them out of the bar.
It was the first of many meetings. It was as if taking the hand, Seam had agreed to something powerful. They were pulled into a whole new world full of emotions and experiences they never even considered before.
Jevil took them to experience lots of new things. That first night it was just going to the nearby park to sit around and watch the stars fill the sky. It had been so long since Seam just looked at the stars without a care… They ended up just talking about meaningless thing until the sun came up.
By the end of it, Seam never felt so well and at peace in their entire life.
The meaningless meeting soon turned into dates after Jevil confessed an interest in the older Darkner and, to their own surprise, Seam found themselves equally as intrigued by the idea.
Loving Jevil was like a whirlwind, everything moving by quickly and without much time to think on what was happening. Being loved by him was like a summer storm, beautiful and full of quick bursts of energy that never really seemed to go away.
Soon, Seam found themselves feeling lonely and incomplete whenever they were away from the imp thus they moved in together in a small apartment surrounded by a bunch of tiny shops. Not long after, Seam decided to open a little shop of their own “Seam's Cranny” selling all sorts of knickknacks and useless items one would expect to find in their grandmother’s house much to Jevil’s amusement.
They built up a life together, eventually marrying.
Nightmares… Tear… Pain…
Happiness, laughter, future dreams and pure bliss…
Seam knew them all. But Jevil made them happy beyond reason.
With Jevil in their life, Seam was finally home.