Chapter Text
Despite how long it'd been since you had stumbled into the Spire, Black Sapphire really couldn't say why you were still there.
When you first arrived, it was a wonder you’d been preserved alive at all. Not everyone had the moxie to let themselves into a Beast’s domain, and those who did were usually executed on the spot.
Though perhaps it was your very apparent confusion and complete unawareness of what was going on that made Shadow Milk decide to spare you. After all, it wasn't very often that he got to introduce himself to someone who knew nothing about him, so he definitely got a kick out of painting an excellent (if not a bit exaggerated) picture of himself for his freshest victim. And even though after about fifteen minutes straight of the self-praise he called an introduction, you still didn't seem to have any idea what was happening, he decided to keep you.
Surprisingly enough, the Recluse had taken the time of day to explain everything to you later that day, after you’d been escorted to your room in the Tower of Deceit. At first, you were a bit disoriented, but apparently slept most of that off the first night. You actually seemed quite happy living in the Spire from that point on, and it was clear to see why–your every need and countless desires were all fulfilled by Shadow Milk, and you seemed very happy with the living space he’d granted you, given how much time you spent in there.
Black Sapphire had to admit, he found it confusing, seeing as you were serving no apparent purpose and being treated as a guest. His master had never explicitly explained what the plan for you was…but whatever the case, he was taking quite a while to get it rolling.
You had been living the high life in the Spire for the past few months, for no reason other than because it was as Shadow Milk commanded.
It realistically wouldn't have been a problem for anyone. You were never really in the way and didn't interfere with the Deceit Trio's work at all.
But of course, that wasn't to say you hadn't affected them at all.
From the moment you broke into his life, Black Sapphire could tell you were going to have an impact in it, whether he liked it or not. And while that conclusion wasn't much more than a gut feeling, it ended up being true.
At first, he was relentless in making sure you knew your place in the Spire’s unofficial pecking order. Whenever he saw you, he made sure to assert dominance in whatever way, shape or form possible, like a cake hound showing off to the new puppy in the house. An insult here, some petty practical jokes there–whatever it took.
You didn't seem to care very much whenever he did, though–if anything, you just found him annoying and shrugged him off. It didn't take very long for him to realize that such measures wouldn't be necessary, as you didn't plan on trying to win Shadow Milk’s favor over him or Candy Apple or even care about being a minion of Deceit at all.
So, after about a week, he stopped.
He reasonably wouldn't have seen much of you after that, aside from a passing glance walking down the halls or a quick hello when you came down for your meals. But even after his skepticism toward you had mostly faded, he still felt some internal need to keep tabs on you.
When he did, though, the result was quite unexpected.
It was nothing much–just an occasional stop in between tasks for a quick check-in, or perhaps a short conversation on your walk up to your quarters. Of course, you were just about as hesitant to talk to him as he was to have you in the Spire, but that just so happened to be common ground he somehow made the most of. Through short but enjoyable exchanges, the two of you eventually went from hesitant acquaintances to alright friends.
And suddenly, that relentlessness had been redirected.
Over the arguably lengthy period of time it took for you to come around to him, Black Sapphire had come to a most unusual conclusion, consisting of three parts.
The first part, realized about three weeks into your stay, was that you were quite attractive. Not quite enough for him to make a move without regretting it later, but still enough that it became a frequent thought in passing.
The second part, he realized just about two months after that, was that he quite enjoyed your company—the two of you had barely broken that shell of distance built on hesitance to get along at that point. That was something he quickly found himself grateful for, because talking to you was, despite his initial expectations, quite pleasant.
And the final part: by your third month in the Spire, he found that he wouldn’t mind holding your hand or calling you his very much at all.
The feeling had all but been pitched at him like a brick, shattering the frosted sugar glass window he’d viewed you through to let an unfamiliar light in. Over time, the way he saw you had evolved from another resident of the spire to the object of his desires, even though he couldn't ever truly tell why. The two of you had become quite compatible, and even Candy Apple had mentioned countless times how much chemistry there was between you, romantic or not.
And if he was being honest, that was a dynamic he was dying to explore the more time he spent around you.
So, after getting the go-ahead from Shadow Milk, the trials of pursuit began.
They came to be just that, though–trials. It seemed you weren't nearly as willing to give that a try or even a second thought as he was, because his every attempt was met with apathy or annoyance. Perhaps that was because the only way he knew how to try and woo you was through the tantalizing charmer act that served as the basis for his radio host persona, which you were less than pleased with whenever it came to flirting with you.
Still, you hadn't given him any reason to give it up. The moment you expressed any discomfort, he would've been more than willing to stop–but if anything, you seemed to enjoy the attention, and it was the one tried and true method he had found that seemed to work, even if only little by little.
He had hope. You would come around…eventually.
So while he continued completely unaware as to why Shadow Milk kept you around, he truly didn't mind the company. And maybe someday, every attempt to finally win your heart, or at the very least your attention, would pay off.
But he had a lot of work to do to get there, it seemed, and he wasn't going to waste any time. The moment Black Sapphire heard Candy Apple mention in passing to Shadow Milk that you were lounging in your room, he straightened his jacket and made his way up the Tower of Deceit.
The way to your quarters was muscle memory at that point, guiding him up flights of stairs that never seemed to tire him out because of the sweet promise of what awaited at the top. As if he wasn’t grinning wide enough all the way there, his smile only got bigger when he saw the string lights you’d adorned the door to your room with down the hall.
When he finally reached the entrance, he took a cautious glance inside, hoping to plan out what his starting play would be. Just as he heard, there you were splayed out on the couch, resting in a seated lounging position with a book between your knees.
He scoffed and rolled his eyes at the sight—he’d somehow allowed himself to forget about that one particular hobby of yours.
When you’d first arrived in the Spire, you carried very few possessions: just a small traveling backpack and the clothes on your back. However, that backpack apparently carried your greatest treasure, seeing as you never let anyone near it no matter how crazy it made you look.
A romance novel.
The page your nose was currently stuck in seemed especially good, because your face was splayed with that blushy, big smile that he could only get out of you with loads of luck on an especially good day. Despite how much he liked the look on you, Black Sapphire simply couldn’t help getting annoyed at the sight.
Not that he’d ever be jealous—why should he envy men made of words on a page that didn’t even exist?
He just wasn’t a huge fan of the fact that they could get more of a reaction from you than he ever got, and after trying so hard at that.
No matter. We can work around this.
You were so lost in your own little world you didn’t even notice him walk into the room, bottom lip between your teeth as you indulged in…well, whatever was so fascinating on that particular part. Still, he didn’t want your attention wasted on words on a page, so he waited only a little longer before he made his move.
Just as your pupils dilated, he slipped his finger into the crevice of the book’s spine, tilting it downward to reveal his own face displaying a cheeky grin.
“What're we reading today, hm?”
As expected, you slammed the book shut, nearly catching his index between the pages as they slapped together down the middle with a hard THWAP. A heavy blush quickly rose to your cheeks, met with a satisfied little laugh as you swung the novel at him.
“What do you want?” You groaned as he swiftly dodged your attack, clearly irritated at the oh-so-rude interruption of your personal time.
Black Sapphire took a quick glance down at the cover of the book, finding the usual works—from the art alone, he could tell the book itself just existed for deprived readers like you to be shamelessly self-indulgent. He tried to contain his irritation, pursing his lips and letting out a long hum.
“Really?” He ignored your question, tilting his head as he took a seat on the corner of the couch, leaned back on his arm at your feet. “Stacks upon stacks of priceless archives are just waiting to be used in the library, yet you pick this.”
“Why should you care?” You shot right back, but there was no real bite to it. As you spoke, you opened the book back up between your thighs—he wasn’t happy about it being open again, but at least you didn’t block him out of your line of sight—and flipped to a different page should he decide to try and take a peek inside again. “Not like you’re the one reading it.”
He huffed, rolling his head in your direction with a sassy look.
“I just think it’s a shame that it doesn’t take much more than this junk to attract such a pretty face—especially when you’ve got a much better option right in front of you.”
As usual, you ignored him.
Black Sapphire tried not to let his disappointment show, but this book was really proving to be his greatest competition. Despite how persevering he was, he refused to admit that it didn’t matter how hard he tried—if you were reading, you wouldn’t be giving him any attention aside from expressing your annoyance until you were done.
He let out a long sigh, but he didn’t leave—he might as well enjoy being in your vicinity while he could, even though you were completely indifferent to his existence at the moment and would likely kick him out soon enough.
Still, there had to be something he could say that might get you to talk…
"I know you don't have anyone in the spire that quite…quenches your thirst,” he tried half-heartedly, fully expecting silence from you but desperate enough to take a pass at it anyway. “...But do you really have to read such trashy romance novels to cope?"
Surprisingly enough, that seemed to be the ticket, because you huffed out a little laugh.
"Pffft, yeah, I definitely don't..."
Black Sapphire sprung up like a sleeper agent, eyes wide.
His heart skipped a beat that he really couldn’t tell was out of fear or excitement, breath accelerating just the slightest bit. You weren’t about to catch him getting so worked up over it, though, so he tried to contain the smile that split his lips as much as possible.
"Pardon?” He implored, wings fluttering about as quickly as a cake hound’s tail would whip around at the prospect of a tasty treat. “Don't tell me you've finally come around to-"
Before he could get too hopeful, though, you shot him a raised brow, huffing out another laugh. "Yeah, no."
Everything went flat, smile falling into pursed lips as he raised both brows.
He reasonably should’ve expected that—you weren’t going to fall for him overnight, after all, no matter how much he might hope so. My own fault for getting my hopes up.
Still, it didn’t change the fact that someone in the Spire had caught your eye. While he was beyond disappointed that it wasn’t him, he still thought it’d be helpful to know—maybe he could bring out in himself whatever it was you liked about them. And if you ever did him wrong, it’d make a tasty rumor to get back at you with.
However, he quickly realized the only other person in the Spire that you might be into was, uncanny as it might be…the Truthless Recluse.
"You...fancy Vanilla?” He asked, a confused grimace twisting his face at the question that was both for you and himself, to a degree. “My, that's quite unfortunate for you-"
"Wrong again..." You sang, flipping the page.
Black Sapphire didn’t fail to clock the sly little look you gave him before your eyes flitted back down to your book.
Thanks to whatever spell your existence in the Spire had cast on him, he was an absolute sucker for the feeling of your eyes on him, so he kept thinking.
Okay…not me, not the Recluse. Who else could possibly be attractive to-
He froze.
"...No.”
You stifled a little giggle, sending a pool of dread to his stomach as he turned to you in disbelief.
“No, no! No! Absolutely not!" He hollered into the air, standing up and aggressively pointing at you.
"PFFFT-!” You wheezed, doubling over and tucking your knees in as you let out breathy laughs—a very bad sign that he was unfortunately right. “Whaaat?!"
"You do NOT have a thing for Master Shadow Milk.”
Your cheeks puffed up as you let out a few last chortles. It was quite the conflicting sight–your smile always made the world a little brighter, but it didn't help to know what was causing it.
"I never said I had a thing for him-"
"I can't believe-” He groaned, running a hand through his hair in befuddlement. “I don't believe this!"
You only started laughing harder, clutching your stomach as you all but winded yourself wheezing at him.
It took every ounce of willpower in his body not to shudder in disgust. Shadow Milk wasn’t just his master—with everything he’d been through while under the Beast’s wing, one could argue they were practically family, and Black Sapphire would be lying if he said he didn’t see him as a father figure. That only made it all the weirder, though, because you were attracted to practically his freaking father.
"This isn't funny!” Black Sapphire spat, starting to pace in front of the little couch you were dying by giggles on. You didn't seem to be listening at all, but the combination of disappointment and genuine concern made him feel like he had to yell. “Witches...you do realize he would-"
"SAPPHIRE.” You cut him off, voice still hoarse as you coughed out the remains of your laughing fit.
Black Sapphire turned toward you, likely looking about as pissy as a five-year-old throwing a temper tantrum.
“I'm not gonna go out with your boss,” You reassured him, finally closing your book. It wasn't nearly as satisfying to him as it might have been five minutes ago, though. “I just... think he's kinda hot."
He took that one personally, letting out a scoff.
Apparently, every single effort he’d made to win you over wasn’t nearly as effective to you as Shadow Milk’s looks alone. While he was in no mood to decide what was reasonable, he thought it so to be upset at that moment.
"You find him attractive?" He sighed, motioning his hand from his temple to the door as if Shadow Milk himself were standing there.
Unfortunately for him, you didn't hesitate to offer a response that he was less than happy with.
"Yes. Hypothetically, I would smash, but then it'd be all awkward and weird between us,” You explained, trying not to smile as his jaw dropped further with every word. “And he's kinda like my landlord, so that's a little power dynamic-y..."
The hand slid over to pinch the bridge of his nose as he let out a long, agitated sigh that perfectly encapsulated how he was feeling at that moment.
"Stop. Talking. Please."
"Why? Are you jealous?” You teased.
Nope. I'm done.
"...Enjoy your trash, you freak,” he growled, shaking his head as he sped out the door.
"Nooo, come back! Answer my question!”
For once, he didn't listen to you, wordlessly moping his way back down the halls.
Once he figured he was out of your earshot, he stopped, dug his face in his hands, and groaned. Long, loud, and frustrated, because he couldn't bear the conversation he’d just had with you.
Unbelievable. All my efforts, every single compliment and conversation and look, and Shadow Milk?!
It was truly a mystery to him what the hell you saw in his boss. Of course, he’d never dare disrespect his master, but you had the habit of forming exceptions in his head.
Every thought and hope and fantasy he’d ever had about holding you, kissing you, finally having you in ways he could only dream of felt more distant than ever, all thanks to that stupid book and his apparently attractive dad.
As he stormed down the pathways of the Tower of Deceit toward his room mumbling and grumbling about how blind you were, he ran into none other than Shadow Milk himself.
Great.
“Hey, kid!” His master stopped him, blissfully ignorant of Black Sapphire's latest awful discovery. “Why the long face, huh?”
“...Lucky bastard.”
Shadow Milk cocked a brow. “What was that?”
“I’m so lucky you’re my master,” He sighed, slit eyes fixed ahead.
“Oh!” The Beast beamed, always ready to receive praise. “Well, attaboy! Oh, and go fetch our lovely little guest for dinner, will ya?”
He forced a smile and nodded, expression falling the moment Shadow Milk turned around.
With another heavy sigh, he summoned a gem-bat to go fulfill his master’s request, staring daggers into the back of the Beast’s head for a moment before continuing down to his room.
It just wasn't fair. He was almost certain he’d been playing his cards right for the past while, inching closer and closer to his goal, to finally having you. But just when he was running out of moves, and fast, you decided to pitch a curveball at him that he wasn't even sure he’d manage to recover from…at least not without a wounded pride.
When he finally got to his quarters, he quietly slipped inside and shut the door.
This day just couldn't get any worse.
Only when he slipped into his chair did he finally allow himself to really breathe, staring up at the ceiling as he processed the conversation that was just a joke to you but would haunt his dreams from that point on.
It really did sting how he wanted to be with you so bad, yet you wouldn't even consider him hypothetically.
He liked you so much.
Why couldn't you see that?