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Love was still — strange to Crimson.
The love he had for his wife wasn't really love and the love for his son was similar in a way.
He found it annoying and an inconvenience. It stopped him from doing what he needed and left for nothing but distractions. He used anger and aggression to push back anyone and everyone. Though, some push-backs weren't due to his own will. Some 𝘩𝘢𝘥 to be done. Some were necessities. Some, if he hadn't, would have ended them in situations that they would have never recovered from. Pushing people away was easy, especially when he shuts down and ignores their ever presence. He liked his small bubble and didn't like getting close to people.
But Mammon was such a different story for Crimson.
The Greed Sin was touchy and annoying, but in a way that had Crimson smiling. His jokes were stupid but it had Crimson covering his mouth to hide his laughter. He wasn't sure if Mammon noticed, he really hoped he hadn't, but he was happy whenever Mammon kept at his usual acts. Mammon was an ass at times, usually giving them all a hard time, but it was amusing and that's more of what Crimson cared about. They were broke as shit before, but with Mammon? With Mammon they had money coming in and Crimson couldn't help the childish acts he committed when alone.
This was good for them and he was more than happy to let Mammon do whatever the hell he pleased as long as they had income.
Now, he wasn't in love with Mammon. No. No Mammon was more of an acquaintance. A work buddy. And that's what he kept it as for as long as he possibly could. But then problems began to arise. Like when Crimson was helping new recruits with their hand to hand combat, he thought everything was going fine but that's when he lost something he found very important ; feeling. His left arm suddenly went limp and they had to stop, the new recruit apologizing so much that Crimson had to threaten the kid to get him to be quiet. He had to tell everyone that it would be fine, but he couldn't feel anything anymore and it was annoying. Though, Mammon seemed to find a way to fit it.
“How'd ya get this?” Crimson had asked him then, watching as the Green Sin placed the metal arm on him. Mammon had his tongue out and brows furrowed as he gently placed it on him.
“I bribed Ozzie.” He said letting out a laugh once the arm fit. “I made sure it fitcha perfectly! From colors to whatever else looked necessary.” Mammon waved his hand slightly as he spoke, smiling like a mad man. The arm had red lines going up it, as it wrapping around the arm, a red heart on the shoulder. Crimson tested it out, smiling when he saw it glow brighter. “Oh! Watch this.” Mammon had gently took his hand, pressing their hands together with a close eyed smile. Crimson's face burned, but he wasn't sure why then. “I asked him to make sure ya could still feel shite, cool yeah?” Crimson had nodded slowly, keeping quiet. He learned how to use the arm when needed and learned a few other things he could do with it. This was a good bonding moment, as Alessio had said, but Crimson couldn't see it that way. It was a nice gesture and Crimson was thankful for Mammon then. He was thankful for Mammon for everything.
He wasn't in love.
He wasn't.
...
Right?
“Alright!” Mammon clapped his hands. The two were walking beside each other as he began to ramble about whatever it was that he deemed important. Crimson was busy scrolling through his phone when he looked up at Mammon. “Oh and I was thinkin' we could -” Mammon was cut short when he tripped over his own feet, falling face first onto the ground. Crimson stared at him, blinking.
And that's when he realized it.
“Fuck.”