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"Geiz?"
"What do you want?"
It was the evening. Geiz had gone to his room. He didn't have any reason to hang out downstairs with the others. He liked being alone.
Unfortunately, someone seemed to have followed him. Sougo. Geiz had no desire to talk to him right now. What didn't he get about them not being friends? He could try as hard as he wanted, but it was never happening.
"I... I'm sure this is definitely overstepping my boundaries." Sougo started off with. Geiz immediately went on the defensive. If even Sougo acknowledged that this was something like that, this conversation couldn't be good.
"But... I uh... I saw... your arm. And I... uh, just..." Sougo was fumbling over his words. "Are you okay?"
Geiz was consumed by panic the moment those words left Sougo's mouth. That was the last he ever needed someone like this to find out. Could he somehow deny it? But, if he did, wouldn't Sougo just demand to see his arm as proof nothing was there?
"It's none of your business. Get lost." Geiz opted to try and simply kick him out.
He got off his bed and started shoving Sougo out the door. But somehow Sougo managed to get out of his grip and dart into the room. He wasn't leaving that easily.
"Zi-O, get out of my room." Geiz repeated firmly.
"Not until you answer me." Sougo replied.
"I answered you already! It's none of your business!" Geiz stormed over to where Sougo was standing and grabbed him by his shirt.
"I just asked if you were okay. Can't you answer that for me?" Sougo, somehow, was keeping a calm demeanor despite Geiz's aggression toward him right now.
"My answer is it's none of your business." Geiz repeated.
"Then I'll take that to mean no."
Geiz was caught off guard by that answer. That wasn't what was supposed to happen! Sougo was meant to just finally drop it and leave. Not start making guesses about what he actually would answer if he liked Sougo.
Sougo took the opportunity to get out of Geiz's grip. He sat himself down on the bed. Geiz took in a few deep breaths. He didn't know what to do now. He was completely thrown off by Sougo again. How did this boy keep getting under his skin so much?
"It's a king's job to make sure his subjects are okay." Sougo said.
Geiz wanted to snap back at him, but found no words wanting to come out. He settled to just glare instead. He was not his king no matter what he said. Geiz would never follow him. Especially when the future was still going to be the same. He wasn't about to become part of this like that.
"And yet it's you who caused this." Geiz found his voice.
"I... caused that?" Sougo repeated.
"How do you think I felt losing so many people close to me because of Oma Zi-O?! No matter what we did, you always won! Do you know how fucking hopeless I felt every time I had to return to town with less and less members of our army?!" Geiz snapped.
Sougo was silent. He seemed to be taking in what Geiz was saying. There was some sorrow filling his eyes. Geiz didn't want his pity.
"Do you know how many times I wished it was me who didn't come back instead of someone else?" Geiz's voice cracked as he continued. "How many times I wished that this nightmare would just end? If I hadn't been given this opportunity to come here and change the future..."
Geiz trailed off. He couldn't tell Sougo that much. He already had said too much. Why had he let himself show so much vulnerability to the enemy?
"You wouldn't be alive, right?" Sougo finished what he had been trying to say.
Geiz just nodded. He couldn't exactly talk his way out of it now. He had said far too much. Dug his grave way too deep to get out of it.
"I don't want your pity." Geiz warned. "Just because I told you this... it doesn't mean I like you. I'm going to make sure Oma Zi-O never happens."
"That's an improvement from saying you're just going to kill me constantly." Sougo smiled.
Geiz turned away. He was too emotional from that outburst. He wasn't thinking with his words before saying them. Everything about this was a disaster.
He jumped as suddenly Sougo grabbed his arm and pulled up the sleeve. Geiz found himself frozen, unable to stop him despite his mind screaming at him to do something. All he could do was watch as Sougo examined his scars.
"Zi-O... what are you doing...?" Geiz asked, his voice showing uncertainty.
"I just... wanted to see if..." Sougo trailed off, but Geiz knew what he meant to say.
He wanted to see if any were particularly fresh. If he had done this since coming to the past. Geiz didn't know what to do with that knowledge. Why was Sougo so worried over him? He was here to kill him. He shouldn't be getting so friendly with his enemy.
"I'm sorry." Sougo said quietly. "I promise I won't turn out this way. I'll make sure to become a good demon king instead. So you have no reason to ever do something like this again."
Geiz quickly looked away. Tears were stinging in the corners of his eyes. Why? Why did he care if Sougo was concerned? He hated him. He shouldn't care about his kind words.
"Geiz..." Sougo hugged him.
Geiz completely froze up at the contact. His body didn't know how to react. When was the last time he had ever been shown any affection like this? Everyone he got close to always ended up dead so he stopped trying to form bonds a long time ago.
The tears came as hard as he tried to stop them. Geiz hated this. He didn't want to be vulnerable. Especially not in front of Sougo. But yet, he couldn't stop it.
Sougo just hugged him tighter as he felt the tears. Against his better judgment, Geiz found himself returning the hug. His hands trembled as he gripped Sougo's shirt tightly.
He sunk to his knees. Sougo followed his movement, not letting go. They sat there on the ground for a while. Until the tears finally stopped.
Geiz pulled away, desperately wiping away the remaining tears on his face. "This never happened. Don't you dare say a word about this."
Sougo laughed. "Your secret is safe with me."
Geiz went to tell him to get out again, but the words died in his throat. He stood back up. Sougo followed his lead.
"I... I'm going to bed. Goodnight." Geiz mumbled.
Sougo nodded. "Goodnight."
At last, he left the room. Geiz let out a small sigh. He glanced at himself on the mirror. He looked a mess.
He turned off the light and crawled into bed. He didn't know how to feel about anything that had just happened. His emotions were mixed. He didn't know which ones he wanted to feel more. The ones that appreciated the comfort or the ones who were ashamed that he had gotten himself into that position.
Geiz closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Maybe after some rest he could gather his thoughts better.
He didn't get very far into trying to sleep before he was disturbed. The door to his room opened again. Geiz assumed it was Tsukuyomi. Possibly coming to see what the commotion had been about.
However, no words were spoken and the door closed. Footsteps started getting closer. Geiz feigned sleep, hoping whoever it was would leave. He honestly didn't want to talk to anyone right now, even if it was just Tsukuyomi.
And then the intruder climbed onto the bed. Geiz quickly opened his eyes. The intruder had climbed in on his backside. He still had no idea who it was.
But before Geiz could turn around, arms wrapped around him from behind. He tensed up at the touch.
"I thought... you might not want to be alone tonight."
It was Sougo. Why on earth was he back? And why was he in bed with him?
Any protests Geiz had didn't come out. His voice wouldn't work. He surrendered to the situation he was forcibly put in for the night. He wasn't getting out this at this rate.
"I know I'm probably the last person you'd want to hear this from, but I'm glad you're still here. That I got to meet you." Sougo said quietly.
"Shut up..." Geiz's voice wavered.
Sougo acknowledged his request at least. No more words were spoken. Geiz closed his eyes again and tried to relax. It was hard when he was in such an unwanted situation.
I'm glad you're still here...
Those words kept ringing in Geiz's head. Sougo was the last person he had ever expected or wanted to hear say those words. But, he was also the first person to flat out say it to him.
Others had seen his scars before. None had ever explicitly stated that to him though. Their actions toward him showed they meant that, but he wasn't given many words of encouragement about his situation before.
Then again, he was by far the only person in their group that had done things like that. Geiz hated to admit that it was a common thing to see. He had always swore to never do something like that, and yet here he was now with countless marks showing his darkest points. At least he was able to hide them quite well. It took a while before Sougo noticed. He just needed to be a bit more careful it seemed.
"Zi-O... thank you..."
Geiz hated that he was saying that, but he had reasons to say it. He couldn't deny that Sougo had helped a bit. He actually got to tell someone his feelings. It was a bit weird telling those feelings to the one who was later going to cause them, but what could you do?
"You're welcome." Geiz could almost hear the smile on Sougo's face as he spoke.
"I'm still not your friend though."
"I know, I know."