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So this is how we’re going to die, huh? They thought, weakly trying to muster the energy to move.
Darius and Eber were puppets. They’d smashed Fiddlesticks just a moment ago in a last stand- Titan, they were so stupid- the only person who knew they were gone was Odalia.
There was no plan B. This was how they were going to die. Strapped to a wall in the same castle they’d spent months rotting in, having killed their final ally with their own two hands, not even being strong enough to take out the Emperor who’d just- they didn’t even know what he did to them, just that they felt disgusting and violated.
They didn’t know how or when they were going to die, just that they would. It was common sense for them. As natural as an apple falling when you dropped it. The next thing that would happen to them would be death. They weren’t happy about it, but they couldn’t think of a way out. This was how it was going to end, this was, perhaps, always the way it was going to end, there was nothing to be done about it.
Somewhere along the way, they started whistling as they closed their tired eyes. They didn’t even register what song it was, at the time, just something vaguely-lullaby-like. A small scrap of comfort, but probably all they would be getting.
***
Thump, thump, thump,
They hear footsteps.
Their eyes snap open and dart around, and that’s when they see it. A large figure, heading straight for them, and they’re barely aware of what’s coming out of their mouth as they reflexively thrash.
They don’t care that they know they’re about to die, that they’ve been waiting for it. Survival instinct, whatever force was making them yell and twist in desperation right now, trumped their feelings on the matter-
…
But… no.
Nothing comes. No sharp blow, no strangling sensation on their neck.
There’s a hand on their face. Soft and gentle and warm.
They know what fake affection feels like. They’ve been on the receiving end of it more than they want to remember these past few months. This isn’t it.
Their glasses are slid onto their face, and…
It’s Eda.
They almost don’t believe it.
She smiles that sweet smile of hers, and rips them out of the mold strapping them to the wall.
***
The evening was an exhausting one.
Belos was dead. They killed him. They’re not dead, he is. A life for a life, they suppose, and they can’t bring themself to feel bad about it right now. They always wanted him out of power, if not dead, that’s what they set out to do. They made it by the skin of their teeth after all.
Everyone came by the Owl House, later. There were tearful reunions, someone brought food over at one point. They mostly sat in the nest with Eda, on the verge of sleep. They’re going to look for Fiddlesticks’ remains tomorrow, if they can even find any in the rubble, but right now they can barely move.
They’re up in her room now. The kids are having a sort of slumber party downstairs.
Eda is holding them. Gently.
They’re contaminating her every second she has contact with them.
They can’t explain how they know, but they know. They can feel the goo crawling under their skin, waiting for a suitable host, and Eda is right there and she’s touching them, her hand is on their waist.
“Eda.” They mumble, mustering the energy to open their eyes. Moving is painful, their face in particular for whatever reason.
“Mm?” She answers, cuddling closer to them. They feel guilt for deceiving her like this, for making her think they’re safe when they’re so dangerous-
“You need to- we can’t do this.” They say, moving away. They don’t know what they’re referring to, themself. Touching, yes, but how far do they have to stay away for her to be safe? Can they not be together, do they have to isolate themself to stop from poisoning the people they love? Is this irrevocable, is he going to be lurking in them forever?
Her soft smile fades. She looks hurt, but resigned.
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry.” They mutter, eyes scanning her for any sort of green. They couldn’t live with themself not only if they gave Belos a new host, but if they let her be hurt like that.
“I… okay.” She pauses. “Raine, I promise I’m different now, I’m not going to keep secrets, and you can leave if you want, but-”
“It’s not that.” They say, sitting on the rim of the nest, much to the protest of their legs. “Please don’t blame yourself. You’re- you’re amazing and wonderful and I love you so so much, but- I can’t. I can’t be around- I’m going to hurt you.”
“Rainey, you won’t hurt me. You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me-”
“I love you, Eda.” They say, trying to maintain some semblance of calm, panicking won’t help. “I do. I love you so much, and I want nothing more than to be with you. But I can’t, okay? I can’t. It’s too dangerous.”
Confusion is added to her expression. “Why not?”
Silence.
They need to get this out as quickly as possible before he gets her, he probably knows they’re trying to warn her-
“Because- when I was a puppet, Odalia was having me do chores and so I wasn’t with the other puppets- and Belos, he climbed in the window and he- he-” How are they supposed to say this? They didn’t even know what he did, how can they explain it to someone who it hasn’t happened to yet? “He like- got inside of me, he was in my lungs and heart and brain and he was moving my body without me agreeing, and he used me to manipulate the Collector-” Titan, that poor kid, they need to apologize- “and get to the castle and- he used me to get to the Titans heart and I tried to fight back but I couldn’t stop him, and I can still feel him, he’s under my skin and I’d never forgive myself if he did the same thing to you so I can’t be near you, it’s too dangerous and you need to stay away!”
Silence.
“Oh.” She said quietly. “That’s how you got to the castle.”
They nodded.
She sighed. “Raine… Raine, I’m so sorry-”
“That isn’t important, I need to leave, you can’t- you can’t be around me. I’m sorry.”
She pursed her lips.
“Raine.” She said slowly, “We stomped Belos to death with our own boots. You saw him.”
Silence.
Something clicked in their brain.
Of course they did that. Why hadn’t they been thinking about that?
They feel another crawl under their skin, which sets them right back into panic mode.
“I- I can feel him under my skin, there must still be parts of him in me, and he’s going to hurt you if I give him the chance-”
“Hey, hey,” she said gently, “it’s okay. It’s all okay. We’ve been sitting together for hours and I’m safe. You’re not dangerous, and Belos isn’t in you- even if pieces of him are, I promise you no one is getting…” she paused, thinking of a word. “Possessed. I’m safe, and you’re safe. Look,” she slowly took their hand in hers, keeping her hold loose enough that they could easily jerk away. “See? I’m okay. I’m touching you, and nothing is happening.”
They paused.
They had been sitting together for hours. She was still herself. They couldn’t see a speck of green on her. And she was touching them. She was herself.
“You promise you’re safe?” They asked. Maybe it was a stupid question. They needed it said out loud anyway.
“I’m right here, Rainey. I’m okay. We’re okay.” She said. “I promise.”
They paused, thinking of any possible other thing that could happen if they laid back down with her and finally fell asleep.
They can’t think of one.
They silently leaned against her, and she wrapped her arms around them, rocking slightly.
It felt nice to be with her.
“It’s okay, I promise. You don’t have to worry about any of the stuff that just happened right now. It’s just us.”
They cling a little tighter to her, as she lays down with them.
“I love you.”