Chapter Text
Truthless Recluse glared at the little book in his lap. He grimaced, feeling the pit growing in his stomach
He should throw it out. Or at least donate it to the local library. Just get rid of it, it didn't matter how. But… he simply couldn't get himself to do it.
He sighed in frustration.
It was a gift from Sage. A gift he had refused, but was forced to accept as the witchdamned scholar wouldn't shut up about it. It wasn't anything fancy, just a book filled with short poems. The Sage had gone on and on about how it could clear up his mind, brighten up his mood, “turn that frown upside down”-ugh. Sage could be so exhausting.
…
His glare stayed fixated on the little book. But for a moment something softened up in his expression. A melancholy feeling jabbed at him in the back of his head.
He didn't want to admit it, but truth be said, this past year Sage has been more… tolerable. Their fierce debates filled with annoyance started to turn more into actual calm discussions. Even something close to casual talks. Their debates used to end in disagreements, but nowadays more than often they actually reach a somewhat middle ground.
There was some kind of shift in their relationship. A shift he didn't necessarily hate. And even as unbelievable it is, Sage’s presence began to be less of a bother. But…
He tore his eyes from the book in his lap.
But as things began to get better they then suddenly turned for the worse. Much worse. It wasn't a slow shift. There were no red flags to warn him. It just happened.
Sage has always been a quite careless and daring type of person. Absolutely zero care for someone’s (or rather specifically Truthless’s) personal space. Being touchy, getting all up in his face, grabbing him by the shoulder and all that wasn’t anything new. But something changed.
Whenever Truthless Recluse expressed his discomfort or boiling irritation, Sage would put a stop to his antics. Sage knew when to back off. Or at least he used to know it...
Lately, the scholar has been even more daring. More touchy, more careless. No matter how much he would threaten Sage or how many curses he would throw the scholar’s way, he would just laugh it off. As if it was just a joke to him.
And too often would Sage take it even a notch further in response to Truthless’s anger. Grabbing, pulling at him, tightening his grip. And then he would give Truthless Recluse that awful smug smile while watching him struggle in his grip or after he would start yelling profanities back at him. Oh, how much he hated that smirk.
…
Sage used to be gentle.
Now it almost feels like a distant memory. But he still remembers.
He remembers the time when Sage decided to visit him, when he was taking care of his garden. It was of course a “surprise” visit, but at the very least Sage offered to help him with the work. An unexpected turn of events as he had never seen the pristine scholar get his hands dirty before. Though he didn’t complain as Sage yaps a lot less when he’s occupied with something.
Truthless Recluse accidentally cut his hand that day. It wasn’t the smallest cut either as the jam started to pour out. He could have healed it easily, but… there was always something about healing his own wounds.
It didn’t take too long for Sage to notice. Though instead of a lousy comment he was expecting, Sage stayed quiet. He just pulled him aside and began to put bandages over the cut as he gently held his hand.
Truthless Recluse traced his palm, feeling the light imperfection in the dough.
Sage used to be kind.
He huffed, looking away. Yes, the keyword. He used to be.
Or perhaps he never actually was.
Truthless used to ponder, what caused this change in Sage? It felt so sudden. Like a switch.
Though that then made him wonder. Did Sage change or did he simply finally show his true colors? Did the wolf finally shed his sheep’s clothing?
He knew he should have never trusted that cookie. He should have never even considered it in the first place. Sage was one cruel individual. As cruel as the truth he preaches so passionately. Just a cookie ecstatic over other’s pains.
How could he have been so blind? How could he have let himself believe that Sage was better than what he seemed?
What an utter fool he was. Did Sage wait for the moment when Truthless Recluse would finally show trust in him to break the mask of kindness?
Truthless pursed his lips, feeling the anger boil in his veins. His grip tightened around the book.
“Curse you!”
Loud bang echoed through the room as the book hit the wall across at full force.
He thought…He actually thought…
Truthless Recluse shook his head. Pointless. Stupid. Meaningless.
Still, the weight in his chest didn't go away.
He was a fool.
___________
“Ah, my dear Recluse! What are you up to?”
He winced in shock at the sound of the voice. His head immediately spun around as he took a step back. His teeth gritted in irritation at the sight of the cookie in front of him.
“Sage.” His voice dripped with venom.
“What are you doing here? You're not welcomed here.”
Sage was never welcomed at the peak. Yet he still kept coming… But this is the first time he barged in. Usually he would bang on the door and be as annoying as possible until Truthless let him in. Though it shouldn't be surprising with all his new awful behavior.
“Oh! What do you mean little old me isn't welcomed here?”
Sage pouted as he played up the sad act. Only for him to start laughing the next second. Truthless continued to glare at him.
“Hah, what nonsense.”
Suddenly Sage flew right towards him, getting as close to him as possible.
“Why the sudden hostility? You never had an issue having me. You wound me. Truly.”
Sage smiled as his hands slid over Recluse's shoulders. Oh, how he despised that smile.
“What are you doing here?” Truthless glared at him. Sage only leaned closer.
“Whaat? Can’t I come visit my dear lovely Reclusy? Afterall, someone stopped coming down his tower.”
Yeah, I wonder why. Truthless Recluse wasn’t gonna let himself get treated like a ragdoll and a fool.
“Stop calling me that and stop doing that.” He retorted back as he tried to get away from Sage. But the grip on his shoulders tightened, pulling him back in place.
“Stop, what? Hmmm?” He gave him the wicked grin. Truthless Recluse never wanted to punch someone more in his life than at this moment.
“Get off of me.” He barked at the scholar as he wiggled himself out of his hold.
Only for Sage to grab him by the forearm and slam him against the wall. Truthless winced as his hands got pinned in a painful grip. His breath hitched in his throat. Was Sage always this strong?
As Truthless Recluse looked at the other smiling down at him, for once in his life he felt genuinely terrified of Sage.
“Aw, look at you.”
Sage cooed at him. His eyes watching him as a predator watches its prey. Sage leaned in towards him. Truthless felt his heartbeat drop.
“You know, I like you like this. So helpless, so hopeless, so pathetic.” Sage chuckled.
“Ah, deceit truly suits you well, my dear Recluse.” The scholar whispered into his ear.
Truthless Recluse used that moment and immediately broke himself out of Sage's hold. He quickly stepped backwards trying to get as far away from the maniac of a cookie in front of him.
“Y-you-!” Truthless stopped himself midsentence as the gears in his head began to spin.
Though Sage took that opening and quickly grabbed Truthless's arm again, pulling him back towards him. Truthless Recluse winced in pain as he felt the other’s fingers dig into arm.
Thankfully his instincts kicked in fast as he immediately hit the other in the side of the head with his staff, putting in as much strength as he could muster. It made the other back down, gripping their head and letting Truthless back away.
Truthless Recluse stared wide eyed at the cookie in front of him as a shocking realization began to dawn on him. He held up his staff in front of him in a defensive position.
“You… you're not Sage.”
He felt dread as those words left his mouth. His body trembled in anticipation as silence overtook the room.
Then the manic laughter came.
The other finally looked up at him, pulling his hand away from the spot where Truthless hit him.
“Ooohh! You're cleaver! So smart! Aren't ya?!”
Truthless stared back horrified as the side of “Sage's” face began to split apart and suddenly dozens of eyes were staring right back at him.
Truthless Recluse felt dread as he faced the thing in front of him.