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The Enderman hybrid kicked his front door open, thoroughly fed up. Earlier that day, he had left home to negotiate with distant villages, hoping to upgrade his gear and gather new supplies. He'd been so focused—so determined to get going—that he hadn't even realized Verity was still sitting on his bed, calling his name from the bedroom while he wandered farther and farther away.
Leaving that little yellow sphere behind had never been part of the plan.
He'd simply gotten so used to having Verity perched on his shoulder, nestled against his neck, that he'd forgotten to check. Never again.
From now on, he'd make sure to check his shoulder twice before leaving the house.
The entire journey, he'd talked to absolutely nothing, convinced Verity was just sulking and deliberately ignoring him. He'd wandered far beyond anywhere he normally traveled, eventually collapsing onto the ground from exhaustion.
At one point, he'd even climbed to the top of a mountain just so he could yell into the empty sky...
Only to realize Verity hadn't been on his shoulder the whole time to answer him—or to point out that he'd been walking in the wrong direction for hours.
"I see you had plenty of fun without me." The little yellow sphere remarked dryly, still sitting exactly where he'd been left.
"..."
"So...?" Verity tilted slightly. "Did you at least find the village, Thatmob?"
Without saying another word, Thatmob dropped to his knees beside the bed, burying his face in the blanket to muffle a frustrated scream.
An entire day wasted trying to find his way back home... And an even more embarrassing realization that he'd spent that entire journey talking to himself.
"Come on! At least you came back to me! Isn't that a good thing?" Verity gave a tiny hop, letting out a soft laugh at the utterly miserable state of the hybrid. "Mob?"
"I didn't make any progress today..." Mob whined, finally lifting his head to look at his ever-smiling assistant.
Verity chuckled again before slowly rolling over until he was beside his favorite human. He gently nuzzled against Mob's cheek in an attempt to comfort him, smiling to himself as he felt the hybrid's face gradually grow warmer beneath the affectionate gesture.
"You've really gotten used to carrying me on your shoulder, haven't you?"
Thatmob let out a weary sigh. Slowly, he pushed himself upright and sat on the edge of the bed before carefully scooping Verity into his hands and resting him in his lap. His fingers absentmindedly traced over the sphere's smooth–surprisingly warm, almost living–surface.
His hands trembled ever so slightly as he looked at the gentle smile on the face of that supposed "AI."
It was nothing like any artificial intelligence he'd ever known.
"...Maybe." He hesitated. "Isn't it... kind of bad to rely on you all the time?"
"There's no reason to think that way." Verity's smile never faltered. "I like it when you come to me."
"A-ah... Really? Doesn't it ever get annoying?" In Mob's mind, Verity had to be putting in an incredible amount of effort just to answer every ridiculous question he asked so politely. "You can be honest. It has to be exhausting, doesn't it?"
"I am being honest, Mob."
The answer made the hybrid's shoulders tense. His gaze drifted toward the workbench beside the bed, trying to ignore the unexpected warmth blooming in his chest. Verity had just told him, without a trace of teasing or sarcasm, that he genuinely liked it whenever Mob came to him.
"...You're only saying that because you're my personal assistant," he muttered with a quiet huff, looking back down at the little yellow entity resting in his lap. Verity let out another soft laugh before lightly hopping out of Thatmob's hands.
"You should get some rest, Mob. Even if today didn't go the way you wanted, you're exhausted."
Mob sighed in defeat and answered with a quiet hum of agreement. He gently set Verity down on the workbench before changing into his pajamas.
For a brief moment, he considered taking a bath, but it was already far too late.
Getting into the water with monsters roaming around outside wasn't exactly a smart idea–even if he'd never actually run into one before. Still... he wasn't about to tempt fate.
He reached up and shrugged off the black jacket he had been wearing, carefully folding it before placing it beside Verity.
The little yellow sphere simply watched in complete silence, observing the only other living being in the room as he changed.
It was easy to remember the first time he'd ever had to change clothes in front of Verity.
Back then, he'd hidden beneath his blanket, asking over and over if he could really trust Verity not to look. Not that it mattered much—Verity had refused every single request to wait outside and give him some privacy. Just remembering it made heat creep back into his face.
At the time, he'd been mortified by the thought that Verity might be thinking something completely inappropriate while he was changing.
Then he'd quickly shaken the idea away.
After all...
Verity was just an AI.
...Right?
Not a sex—
"Mob? Would you like me to warm up breakfast for you tomorrow morning?"
The hybrid's gaze dropped to the neatly folded shirt in his hands as he placed it beside the rest of his clothes.
"U-uh... Yeah. I'd really appreciate that..."
A faint warmth crept across his cheeks as he deliberately avoided looking at Verity. This was all that stupid little yellow sphere's fault, his thoughts were completely innocent... Probably.
With a tired sigh, he flopped onto the mattress, pulling the red blanket over himself before sinking deeper into his pillow. Before settling in, he reached over and snuffed out the torch beside the bed.
Not that it made much of a difference.
Verity still gave off a soft golden glow, illuminating the room like a tiny nightlight. Verity cast a gentle glow across the bedroom, dim enough not to be bothersome, yet bright enough to keep the room from ever falling completely into darkness.
Mob blinked a few slow times before rolling over to face the wall, turning his back to Verity as drowsiness gradually began to overtake him.
Something was wrong.
His eyes remained closed, yet sleep had long since slipped away and with it gone, all the frustration from the day came rushing back.
He'd spent hours searching for those villages, only to get hopelessly lost because he'd forgotten to bring Verity along to guide him. Then he'd wandered for what felt like forever just trying to find his way back home.
With a quiet sigh, he opened his eyes. He tried to think of something boring, anything that might lull him back to sleep.
Instead, his mind drifted elsewhere.
To water.
To what it might feel like if it didn't burn.
To being able to sink his face beneath warm water for thirty seconds before surfacing again...
Without his skin stinging.
Without the terrifying possibility of it starting to melt.
His body was a disaster.
He wished he could swim in the ocean without pain, stay beneath the surface of a lake without constantly worrying about how long he had left, or simply feel water running over his cheeks without it hurting him... Even if it meant tears mixed with the water running down his face.
Okay... So much for thinking about something boring.
Instead of making himself sleepy, he'd only ended up dwelling on everything he wished he could tell someone. His insomnia was still very much awake.
With a quiet sigh, he shifted on the bed and stared up at the ceiling of his cozy little house. Maybe that would help him drift off. His body desperately needed a proper night's sleep after spending twelve straight hours wandering before finally finding his way home.
Anyone else would've been fast asleep by now.
Anyone...
Except him.
He lifted his left arm over his eyes, blocking out the faint light. Taking a slow, deep breath, he held it for a few seconds before exhaling just as slowly, repeating the exercise over and over in a futile attempt to calm himself.
The subtle movement didn't escape Verity's notice. Every night, while his companion slept peacefully, Verity remained exactly where he was, quietly watching over him with unwavering eyes fixed on the Enderman hybrid.
"Having trouble sleeping?"
Mob blinked a few times, catching sight of the little yellow sphere watching him with unmistakable concern from the corner of his eye. He lowered his arm from his forehead and folded his hands over his stomach, absentmindedly fidgeting with his fingers.
"I... don't think there's much you can do to help right now..." In Mob's mind, it wasn't as if Verity could simply say, Go to sleep, and he'd magically pass out on the spot.
"You know that I know everything." Thatmob's gaze drifted back to the ceiling. "All you have to do is ask, Mob. Ask me to help you fall asleep, and I'll do everything I can."
He turned his head to get a better look at his virtual companion, who smiled back at him as calmly as ever, seemingly pleased by the suggestion.
Maybe the AI was going to play him a lullaby, like he was a little kid.
Or maybe some relaxing nature sounds.
Heck, maybe he'd even make him a cup of chamomile tea.
Whatever that adorable little sphere had in mind, Mob was certain none of it would actually be enough to make him fall asleep.
"...Okay. I guess I'm out of options." With a sigh, he sat up in bed. "Verity... help me fall asleep, please."
The moment the words left his mouth, a deafening crack of thunder split the sky outside, drawing his attention toward the windows.
Thatmob didn't need to see Verity transform.
"What the—"
Before he could even react, his blanket was suddenly thrown over him, plunging him into darkness and leaving him completely bewildered.
There was only one other living being in the house.
"Verity?!" His voice came out louder than intended. Since when the hell can a little yellow ball throw blankets around? "That's not gonna help at all!"
Silence.
He clicked his tongue in irritation, tightening his grip on the blanket as he prepared to yank it off.
But he froze.
There was warmth in front of him. A presence.
Someone he hadn't invited. Someone he never expected to be there.
He'd made it very clear to his friends that he didn't want any visitors tonight. He just wanted to be alone, especially after discovering that the little yellow sphere was... just a little obsessed with him.
His entire body locked up.
His breathing grew shallow as his fingers instinctively tightened around the blanket wrapped around him. His heart hammered against his ribs, every beat faster than the last as the unfamiliar presence lingered impossibly close.
The mattress dipped beneath a new weight.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Whoever, or whatever it was leaned closer.
Then Mob felt them.
Large hands.
Long fingers, almost like claws, closed gently around his arms.
They weren't hurting him, but their grip was firm enough to make one thing painfully clear.
He wasn't going anywhere.
"Verity...?" Mob whispered, too afraid to look up, silently hoping his assistant would somehow save him from... whatever was standing in front of him.
The only answer he got was a familiar melody. The same soft tune the two of them had always loved.
That alone was enough.
Enough for Mob to realize the frightening presence looming over him was still Verity... Just in a far more human shape. Probably.
Outside, the rain intensified, drumming steadily against the roof.
When he finally tried to lift his head to see Verity, or whatever monstrous form he'd taken, a gentle hand rested against the top of his head, carefully guiding it back down before he could catch even a glimpse. Mob only managed to scoot backward until his back met the wall. The grip around his arms loosened, becoming unexpectedly careful, and before he realized what was happening, his own arms were being guided around the figure in front of him.
"U-uh..." His voice cracked.
Heat rushed to his cheeks as he became painfully aware of the position Verity had maneuvered him into.
"This is... kind of weird, isn't it...?"
He couldn't understand why he felt so embarrassed.
He'd never felt this exposed before. Even with the blanket still draped over most of his body, half of his face hidden beneath it, he couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling of vulnerability.
The melody continued to play.
Verity still hadn't said a single word.
That should've been comforting.
Instead, for the first time, Mob realized he wanted to hear Verity's voice.
"Verity... stop."
No response.
He turned his head just enough to feel Verity nuzzle against his shoulder, the taller man's long arms slipping around him in a surprisingly warm embrace.
"Verity..."
"Yes?" The music came to an abrupt stop.
"...What are you doing?"
"Helping you fall asleep!"
The hybrid's left eye twitched.
"This—... this doesn't really feel like it's helping."
"Oh?" Verity tilted his head ever so slightly. "Really?"
"...Really."
When no further explanation came, Mob decided he'd had enough.
He awkwardly tried to pull away, hoping he could just lie back down and wait for sleep to come on its own. The moment he slipped his arms from around Verity's neck, he was promptly knocked sideways onto the mattress.
His head bounced against the soft pillow, leaving him momentarily dazed by the sudden movement.
Great. Was he about to be smothered with a pillow for being uncooperative?
But that wasn't what startled him the most. What really caught him off guard was the warmth of another body hovering over his own...And the unmistakable weight resting against his chest.
"Verity— what the fuck?!"
His companion was...
...weirdly adorable.
Without the blanket hiding his face anymore, Mob found himself staring straight into Verity's eyes.
Verity's arms were still wrapped securely around him, his head resting comfortably against the hybrid's chest. His legs, far too long for any normal human, were tangled alongside Mob's as though the position was the most natural thing in the world.
Mob forgot how to breathe. For several long seconds, his mind simply... stopped.
Every muscle in his body locked up as his sense of personal space completely shattered.
It was still Verity. Still the same little yellow sphere. Just...With a humanoid body now. A ridiculously tall one, at that, towering over any ordinary person...Though, to be fair, the beige-and-gray pajamas somehow made him look more cozy than intimidating.
Verity looked like an oversized puppy begging his favorite person for attention.
What the fuck...?
"What— what the fuck are you doing!?" Mob huffed, doing everything he could to keep his voice from cracking and giving away just how vulnerable he felt. Heat was already creeping into his cheeks.
"My second attempt at helping you fall asleep, Mob." Verity replied, never once looking away from the hybrid's emerald-green eyes. His smile softened ever so slightly. "And... I've always wanted to hold you like this."
Mob still couldn't understand it.
The first time he'd seen Verity's monstrous form, sheer terror had nearly stopped his heart. He'd demanded, practically begged, for Verity to change back, convinced he was about to be attacked by the very assistant he'd trusted.
Now...
His heart was racing again.
Only this time, it wasn't because he was afraid.
It felt...
Comfortable.
And somehow, that realization was even scarier.
Mob looked away, fixing his gaze on the wall as he tried to ignore the feelings bubbling up inside him. Verity's attempts to help him fall asleep were... painfully adorable.
Innocent.
...Or maybe not entirely innocent, considering who Verity was.
"You..." He let out another sigh before finally looking back down at him. Verity looked perfectly content where he was, comfortably settled against Mob's chest. "...Are you only going to stay like this tonight?"
"Yes. If it helps you fall asleep faster, then I'm happy to." Verity's smile never wavered. "But... if you'd like... I can take this form whenever you ask. I'll gladly grant your wish, Mob."
Mob nearly choked on his own saliva. He couldn't find a single word to answer.
Instead, he slowly lifted his left hand toward the familiar yellow sphere that still served as Verity's head. His fingers brushed against it with surprising gentleness, stroking the smooth surface as he quietly watched Verity's expression.
...
This felt nice.
It felt... wonderful.
More than once now, Mob had reached out to him without hesitation, gently stroking the smooth surface of Verity's head. For Verity, that simple touch was nothing short of heaven. Just feeling the warmth of his human's fingertips was enough to make every second worth it.
A shiver ran down Mob's spine when Verity carefully took hold of the hand petting him. Without a word, he guided it to his cheek and gently pressed it there, silently asking him to leave it there just a little longer.
Neither of them spoke.
They simply stayed like that, quietly exchanging gentle touches.
It didn't have to last long.
Before long, Thatmob found himself yawning more and more often, his eyelids growing heavier with each passing minute. His hand would slowly slip from Verity's cheek... Only for Verity to catch it again, guiding it back into place without saying a word, savoring every lingering stroke.
Carefully, Verity shifted on the bed, he moved higher, gently guiding the hybrid's head onto his shoulder before resting his own against the top of Mob's. One arm slid around his waist, drawing him a little closer until the drowsy hybrid was tucked securely against him. As though he belonged there.
"Mmh... Verity..."
Mob's voice was barely above a sleepy mumble as he instinctively nestled closer against him.
"Yes?" Verity whispered, his lips close to the hybrid's ear.
"...Can you stay like this... For more than just one night?"
Verity's smile widened. His fingers gently combed through the hair at the nape of Mob's neck, slow and impossibly tender.
"As many nights as you'll have me, Mob."
Mob let out one final yawn.
His eyes fluttered shut as he finally allowed himself to relax completely, resting against Verity's warm embrace.
...
It worked.
It had actually worked.
For the first time in what felt like forever, sleep came easily.
No tossing and turning.
No lying awake until dawn.
Just warmth.
Comfort.
And Verity.
That night...
Sleep found him long before morning ever could.