CW: Strangulation, kinda horror? creepy idk

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"I hate you."

"I know."

"You have no idea how much I hate you from the bottom of my heart."

His fists were closed upon themselves and his lips formed a perfect straight line, drawing an expression devoid of all warmth and affection on his face. His blindfold was missing from his eyes and revealed two icy blue orbs, these could almost freeze the other on the spot.

The silver haired male was standing in front of him, motionless.

Not close, not far.

Almost within arm's reach and yet seeming miles away.

A mask usually covered his face but not this time. His rosy lips were visible, luscious and throbbing like the vein that had formed on the forehead of the man dressed in a robe. Their corners lifted up, sketching a faint smile. Two gray eyes then met his and that strange tension in the air created at that moment made him shiver down to his core.

"...I know."

"I hate you-!" he repeated again.

These few words echoed in his head like a macabre song seeking to bewitch him and he then advanced towards the male, staggering, stumbling, drowsily. His expression was torn between anger and deep sadness. His hands came to wrap around his neck and the two men fell backwards, the blue-eyed one dominating the other. His long fingers circled his throat, his thumbs pressing forcefully against his porcelain skin, compressing his arteries.

"You... You killed her-!"

He pressed even harder and the gray-haired male placed his gloved hands on his arms but didn't try to resist, simply smiling fondly.

"Why!?" He shouted in a trembling voice. "She hadn't done anything! We-we were supposed to get married and you- you-"

His screams subsided, but the strain on the poor male did not cease, growing constantly. A black liquid began to flow from his nostrils, then from his half-open lips, from his eyelids, coal-colored tears running down his cheeks and staining the hands of the dark-haired. The same liquid then began to flow from his own head, so abundantly that his vision began to be clouded.

The black blood rained down on him, on them, engulfing them in a sea of darkness, swallowing them whole until there was nothing left...

"Ae...sop...!"

Eli sat up suddenly. He was sweating profusely and having cold sweats that made him shudder. His breathing was faster than usual and it took him a few moments before he realized he was actually sitting in his bed, kept warm under his covers. He placed a hand on his forehead, his eyes wide with horror from the bad dream, no, nightmare, he had just had. His eyes then slid to the side and he noticed a familiar figure emerging from his deep sleep.

"...Eli...?" Asked a sleepy voice.

"Aesop-"

Barely had he time to ask the dark-haired man what was wrong after straightening up, the latter suddenly embraced him, the abrupt pull causing him to fall right back against the feather pillows. Aesop was surprised but he didn't ask any questions and simply ran his hands down the male's back, one sliding to the back of his head and gently caressing his brown locks.

His gray eyes went to the window while his hand motions did not stop. It was still dark and the moon was shining high in the sky, bringing a faint glow into the room. For almost five full minutes, Eli did not let go of Aesop. He only broke away from him when he moved briefly because of the uncomfortable position they were in.

"...Sorry."

"You don't have to apologize."

Eventually, they nestled together, Eli's arms resting around Aesop's waist, his head leaning against his chest. Aesop himself had his arms around his lover's shoulders, still stroking his hair.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I-I..."

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

Eli didn't know what to say to be honest. How could he broach the subject with Aesop? Could he really bring Gertrude like this, his fiancée, to the man he had replaced her with? To tell him that he had dreamed of himself strangling him and accusing him of killing the young woman when he had no knowledge of what was going on outside the mansion?

It was not Aesop's fault. Eli was certainly aware of the male's actions before arriving at the baron's residence but the latter had certified to him that he had never encountered a Gertrude Vandergaw then as serious as his crimes were, he was not in a position to judge him for he also had his own secrets. Aesop had however changed with the time he spent in his company and he assured him that his convictions were not the same as before. 

"Sorry... I just... I love you."

"I love you too."

"Aesop, Aesop... Sorry... I love you, I love you..."

The gray-eyed male raised his eyebrows in confusion. It hurt him inside to see his other half suffering like this and there was nothing he could do to help. Eli had always been there for him in times of need, but when it came to the dark-haired man who needed support, Aesop simply felt useless. Communication wasn't his forte to top it off and the thought of being nothing but a heavy weight to the dark-haired man was slowly eating away at him.

"I love you too Eli. I should be the sorry one instead..."

Eli looked up at Aesop with his blue eyes at that moment, in shock.

"What- No, Aesop..."

His hand gently rested on the young man's cheek and he pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips.

"Don't be."

"But... I wish I could support you..."

"Having you by my side is more than enough... Aesop..."

His other hand passed behind his neck and he moved slightly closer to him, their breaths mixing and their pupils dilating. Their lips brushed against each other for a few excruciating seconds before coming to meet and consume each other. Aesop crossed his arms over the back of Eli's head, his cheeks flushing at the ethereal feeling of the kiss, their minds still clouded by the late hour.

If words couldn't conjure up what they were feeling, their actions were more than capable of doing so.

In this horrific and luxurious prison, their two souls had bonded together against all expectations. The misdeeds of one were also carried by the other like an unbreakable chain, but rather than a burden, it was proof that their relationship was strong and everlasting. A nightmare was only one dream among others but the reality was unique and theirs had become the other.