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"Don't do this, Clayman!" Wendy followed him as he left the room. "I'm telling you, you don't understand what Rimuru is capable of!"
Clayman turned suddenly, grabbing the fabric of their shirt and tugging them towards him. "Don't speak that slime's name to me!" he hissed out, glaring at them. "It is a slime , and nothing more!"
Wendy seemed entirely unperturbed, grabbing Clayman's wrist with their own hand as they met his gaze with their own fierce glare.
"They are NOT just a slime! This will- this will be the end of you, of us, if you-"
"SHUT UP!" Clayman shouted, shoving them sharply.
They stumbled back, catching themself. Their heart was pounding in their ears, mouth dry. Clayman had shoved them. Clayman had shoved them . That was unthinkable, that was-
When had the Soul Corridor gone so quiet?
Clayman took a deep breath, adjusting his tuxedo jacket slightly, brushing imagined dirt off his sleeves.
"I am the Demon Lord here, Wendy. You are my subordinate. I have always welcomed your opinion - but I have already told you no . My decision is made."
"But I- Clayman, I-" They exhaled loudly, shaking. "I feel like I don't even know you, anymore. This isn't like you. This isn't- this isn't rational . This isn't the caution you've always exercised. This isn't the right choice."
"And who are you to tell me that?" He watched them coolly, red eyes piercing right through them.
"I...I thought I was...your...your Beating Heart." They closed their eyes, pressing one palm to the necklace resting just above their breasts.
Clayman sighed. "Things were better back then. Back when there was nothing you could do but listen."
Wendy let out a strangled sound, falling to the floor on their hands and knees. They couldn't breathe . They couldn't breathe. There was no way that Clayman, Clayman , their beloved, their one and only, the man who they had linked their soul to, could ever say something so cruel to them.
That was truly, truly impossible.
Their mind flashed elsewhere, recalling moments that spanned their centuries long time together.
A young man who had not known how to comfort the crying human, but had tried anyway.
A young man who was confident and charismatic with everyone else, but who stumbled over his words in their presence.
A man who had been so gentle with them, when he was often cruel to others.
A man who had confessed his love for them only because he could not bear the thought of them thinking they were not worthy of it.
A man who had kissed them softly, and hungrily, and everything in between.
A man... Clayman ...the one and only person who had made this world worth living in.
"Hush now, Mistrum," a soothing voice interrupted their thoughts, and they became aware of Eva gently helping them up. Clayman was nowhere to be seen. How long had they been here crying? "It's alright."
It was not alright, and Wendy was certain that thought showed in their expression as they met Eva's gaze, only now realizing their chest was shaking as they sobbed.
Eva looked away, and Wendy knew she understood.
It was not okay, and nothing would ever be okay again.