Chapter Text
A terrible ringing hit their ears like a fright train, with a sharp pain at the back of their skull. Their eyes slowly fluttered open, and the scent of a faintly familiar rosemary perfume mixed with cigarette smoke in the air made them curious as to where they were. They were more than used to the scent of smoke that always seemed to linger in the air after the scorch, or the rotting meat of the food for the oziphrages. This wasn't anything like that. It smelled just like her, and deities above, it made their heart ache.
Hook shifted their feet, only to feel something tightly binding their ankles to chair legs. That woke them up quicker than the perfume. They raised their head, only to immediately lock eyes with their ex. Her grin said it all, as she stepped closer to them. The spurs of her boots jingled just loud enough to fill the silence between them. When they attempted to pull their hands up, they found them tied to the armrests of the chair. Their gaze instinctively went to see what it was that kept them like this — chain. Of course, she had to be extra. Hook's gaze didn't linger for long as her hand — the flesh one — slipped onto their jaw, making them look right back at her.
"Good to see you again, sugar."
She purred, that southern drawl, despite being similar to their own, was equally threatening as it was hypnotizing. She leaned close, pushing their hat off their head with her prosthetic arm to place a small peck on their forehead. They felt their throat go dry, their jaw go slack. They didn't expect affection — hell, they didn't expect her to greet them at all. But, if it came down to what they were expecting versus what they were given...they'd hate to admit it, but they'd choose this softer treatment a thousand times over.
"Scythe."
Hook murmured, their voice gruff from the lingering sensation of pain at the back of their skull. Had they known any better, they'd immediately try to argue with her, to escape. But she was a killer now. She wasn't the same imphernal they'd fallen in love with — she was dangerous. A brainwashed zealot, if anything. Her hand remained on their jaw, her thumb moving to gently stroke skin closest to their cheek. They didn't want to lean in, but damn it, they missed her so much it hurt. Waking up alone hurt. Even if she was about to hurt them, they needed this.
Scythe smirked as she watched her former lover lean into her hand — like a still loyal dog. She slid into their lap with practiced ease, she's done it a million times before, it's just been a hot minute. She let her prosthetic land on their shoulder, as she stared at them from under her cyan lenses.
"Heard you've got some...pretty important info, darlin'..."
She leaned closer, their noses brushing against each other like they did in the past. She felt them stiffen, almost holding their breath to not breathe her in anymore than they already have. A soft chuckle slipped past her lips as she let their jaw go, only to trace down their chest with her pointer finger. Her face drifted from theirs to their neck, where she pressed a feather-light kiss to the skin right under their jaw.
"Info the church would really enjoy havin' if y'were to...join us."
She whispered against the warm skin that smelled like damp sand with a hint of whiskey. Something she had grown fond of, once upon a time. Her fingers curled around their side before sliding under their arm in an embrace.
"...I ain't gonna let myself become like you, Scythe."
Hook responded, their voice soft despite their rather cruel — in Scythe's opinion, at least — words. A soft, almost sad sigh, escaped the inphernal on top of them. She pulled away from the embrace to truly face them, staring into their eyes for some sort of chance they might change their mind. She only found them avoiding her gaze once more. Maybe it was the fact they had denied her, or the fact they were avoiding any form of eye contact with her, but something in her chest seemed to hurt in a way she couldn't fully seem to comprehend, or enjoy.
Scythe leaned into Hook's face once more, brushing their noses once again.
"Well...there's always the fact y'could slip me some sweet information, y'know. I'll trade ya a kiss for it. Ain't that a good deal?"
She purred, a grin gracing her lips even though it hurt her more than anything to know that the same inphernal she had once held so dearly, now probably didn't want a damn thing to do with her. For a moment, there was silence, then a huff of exhaustion slipped past Hook's lips. Then they shook their head.
"I can't do that to them, Scythe."
They responded, only to find Scythe's lips pressed to theirs. They blinked, confused, but they slowly returned her sudden affection. Maybe it was the fact that there were still some lingering feelings left, or perhaps their voice that made her kiss them. It was warm, even if they weren't together. Their lips were slightly chapped. She heard a small, quiet whimper of pain escape them — maybe she had hit them too hard on the head earlier. Either way, it made her happy when they returned it. When they finally broke apart, she found herself placing more kisses on them — their jaw, their cheeks, the bridge and tip of their nose, anywhere she could reach. That was, until she heard the faint church bells from above. She tsked, pulling away from the warmth that was her...well, she wouldn't call them her ex considering she had just kissed them like they just returned from war, but she wouldn't even dare to think of them agreeing to get back with her. Her situationship. Even though Scythe would much rather spend all day and all night on top of them, she had work to do.
"I'll be back later, Hook. Don't think about escapin' yet."
She purred, then smirked. She finally turned to exit the room, but she paused right as she reached for the door handle.
"Not like y'can, anyway. I am all you need, after all."
And that sweet scent of rosemary and cigarettes slowly escaped the room with that sweet presence that was Scythe, leaving Hook still tied up, a bit confused, and maybe a little flustered.