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A tune hums from beside you on the front porch steps. Your gaze wanders over the specks of green light dancing in the air, over the wooden railing on either side of you, until they settle on none other than Hornton himself. The fae seems to be lost in thought, one of his gloved fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on the fabric of his pants. The lullaby coming from between his lips is familiar to you—bringing both warm memories and a heaviness that weighs down on your chest.
The melody was sung in your home world. The melody rested at the vestiges of your mind when you and others fell into a slumber, meant to lock you within a dream for eternity. The melody was heard within Lilia's dream as you saw a mother. Despite being imposing and powerful as she is, her arms cradled an egg so black it almost appeared indigo, cherishing her moments with her unborn child. And the melody embraces your heart again as Malleus hummed, lost in thought. His gaze drifts into the distance, looking at something you can't see.
It is still cool outside, not too hot, not too frigid. The only warmth radiates from the fae next to you, but you lean on the stair railing to your left instead. If you were to lift your eyes, you'd see the velvet sky ornamented in shimmering stars, with a single pearl-like moon sewn in it. However, you sneak a glance at Hornton from the corner of your eye. He looks to be in his element—a majestic fae, surrounded by fireflies that adorn his very being, the moonlight gently contouring his silhouette.
His beauty makes you want to cry—look at him compared to you, still clad in your dingy pajamas.
Malleus lets out a soft exhale as he finishes the last note, falling silent again. As beautiful as his voice is, you notice he never uttered a single word throughout the song, unlike the Lilia and Maleanor you saw in a dream.
Your head felt too heavy to lift itself, so you allowed your face to remain pressed against the wood railing as you turned to ask him, "What's on your mind, Hornton?"
His eyes, swirling pools of verdant green and unspoken words, meet yours. If his irises are windows, you imagined a forest that swallows all travelers who happen to stumble in. It would be the fabled woods people would warn about, as beautiful as it is, because should someone step too far in, they would be lost to the forest forever. There's no telling what would become of those explorers—perhaps they've come across an unfortunate fate; or maybe, they happened across a certain fae that resided deep inside the forest.
You think he looks lonely like this. Despite your legs brushing against his as you both sat on the patio steps of Ramshackle Dorm, there is still a distance between you both. And that distance is why you would choose to lean on a cold stair railing rather than him, unlike how you treat Grim and the Hunting Season.
The distance feels impassable. Even after gifting him a nickname, even after going through his overblot, the sense of satisfaction did not arrive like it did with others. You're not sure if it's because Malleus intentionally keeps it that way, if you blocked others out of habit, or if it is something you both contributed to. Either way, the two of you never commented on it.
Perhaps, you sought more than the closing of this distance. Maybe that's why it bothers you so much.
"Child of man." His voice comes softly, the tones of his words sending a thrum across your heartstrings. You could fall asleep to this—the sound of his voice is comforting. "When retiring to bed..." Malleus pauses, searching for his words. "... is there someone who would accompany you?"
What an odd question. "Well, I have Grim..."
Rather than seeming satisfied with your answer, his gaze falls to the ground. "That is a miswording on my part. What I meant is, the life of yours before your arrival in Twisted Wonderland. In that time and space, does someone accompany you as you retire to bed?"
Surprised by the incredibly specific question, it takes you a moment to answer. "Um... no?"
"What of your early life?"
"My...?" Early life? Does he mean your childhood? "No, not really."
"Do the children of man not require a lullaby before they slumber?"
His brows furrowed slightly as he asked the question, his lips pursing. Between the tune he was humming and the question he had asked, you connect the dots and realize that perhaps he was thinking of his mother.
"It's not... 'required'... It's just something that nice parents do for nice children. Sometimes."
"Were you not one of those 'nice children'? I assumed you're a pleasant child..."
You decide to give him a vague answer. "Um, I'd say I was pretty okay, just like any other kid..."
"Then, were your parents not—?"
"It's not like that." The words come faster than your brain could process them. You realize that this conversation was much like a game of table tennis, in which Malleus constantly throws the ball your way just when you thought the conversation was over. With those last words of yours, he fell silent, and you felt slightly guilty for hurling the metaphorical tennis ball completely off the table so that he couldn't ask any more.
"Sorry, Hornton, I didn't mean to say it like that. It's just..." Your voice trails, unsure how to adjust your words accordingly. "... It's just not something I, uh... want to really talk about right now... So I hope you, um, could understand that," you say quietly. Your gaze darts away, fingers twiddling in your lap. Malleus isn't the type to prod, but the fact is that you placed another brick on the wall between you two. Both of you have been quiet about it until now, but this brick you placed made a sound that echoes—bringing attention to how distant you two really are. You felt slightly unfair. Malleus must be aware that you practically pried into his life through Lilia's dream. It's not as if you could help it at the time, of course, yet still...
"... I understand." Even without looking at him, you could sense a note of reluctance in his voice. It makes you feel like shrinking.
You stand from your seat. "Um, then," you manage out. Perhaps it's time to call this a night and return to your bed. "Good—"
"Child of man." Hornton's looking up at you, as he's still seated, yet his gaze seems to root you in place. "Would you like to have a lullaby before you retire to bed?"
"What?" His question was so unexpected that you couldn't help but let out a strange, bewildered noise. "Sorry, I meant... why?"
His head tilts in that charming way you absolutely adore, a puzzled expression on his face. "I'm simply proposing to sing a lullaby to accompany you while you rest. Is that..." Malleus hesitates, an awkwardness settling in the air. Those eyes of a fabled forest drift to the side. "... offensive?"
He already seems to be making a mental note of it before you sputter out, "No, no, it's not offensive! I was just—a little, kind of, surprised." You can't have him thinking that sweet offer of his upset you in some way. The last thing you need in this hopeless situation that twists your heart every which way is to add in miscommunication.
Malleus breathes out a thoughtful hum. "So, you wouldn't be opposed to allowing me to sing a verse or two?"
Is there a reason he's so insistent on this? Did he see through your words and view you as pathetic or pitiful? "My main concern is if you are willing." After all, offering to sing someone to sleep, even through humming, is not a common offer made. It sure isn't one you expected either.
His lips curve into a smile. "Do you take me as someone to make an offer I wasn't willing to follow through with?"
"Uh... I guess not."
Malleus doesn't reply to you, instead opting to gently wave a hand at you, beckoning you to come closer. When you don't move right away and instead stare at him, he breathes out a small sigh. "It would be more comfortable for you to rest against something, would it not?"
That's understandable, except— "You want me to lay against... you?" It came out louder than you expected, and you automatically quieted afterwards, which only let your words ring clearer.
Much to your surprise, he didn't appear offended by your words. "You would lean against the hard railing in lieu of my body? I wasn't aware you had an affinity for hard surfaces." You could glimpse a fang peeking out between his lips as they curve. "Is this a common trait of children of man?"
Is he... teasing you? You couldn't believe your ears—or your eyes, for that matter, since he was grinning so smugly at you. Is this fae humor? No, Lilia doesn't do this. Then, Malleus humor? Wait, does that really count as—
"Child of man."
Okay, okay, you get the hint. With some awkwardness, you shuffle and scoot nearer. Hesitantly, under Malleus' gaze, you tentatively touch your head to his shoulder. "Um, like this?"
"It doesn't look as comfortable as you are making it out to be. Come." With gentle hands, he adjusts you so that your head lays on his lap. If you dared to turn your head, if you dared to lift your head, you'd see the smile gracing his lips.
But you don't, so you will not see that smile tonight.
As soon as you nestle your head (and try to ignore the fact that your head is on Malleus' lap) the low tune sounds again from his throat. From the first note, your eyelids began to weigh down. They're too heavy, and trying to keep them open is too much effort to spare.
"... Hornton, if I fall asleep..." you mumble.
A finger, cool in contrast to your warm cheeks, gently trails along your skin. You then realize that he's adjusting and pulling your hair aside from your face. "I'll tuck you into bed, then." His fingers shield your face, covering your eyesight.
It's unfair, having someone so beautiful to be so talented and sweet as well. How can anyone not fall for Malleus?
You bite back a sigh, instead focusing on steadying your breath. When you close your eyes, it feels like the world itself has become softer and more welcoming. Malleus's hand is so gentle on your head, and his voice is accompanied by the crickets' chirping. Sleep washes over you, forcing a yawn out of your mouth.
"... Go to sleep, go to sleep, little darling
And may your dreams
Guide you to the light.”
And then he whispers, so gently that you could mistake it as a dream, your name.