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As night drones over Sioux Falls, a strong breeze gusts against the trees, making the leaves rustle. Making the silence just a little more bearable.
It's fall now, so the night is ever colder than before, but P. doesn't mind it.
Although the mystery of the apartment still lingers in the walls that enclose P’s apartment complex, tonight is just one of those nights that feels like nothing is out to get you, or at least that's what P. thinks.
P. is not home today. He thought it would be nice to take a walk outside to take a break from all the creepy stuff he has been finding lately inside the apartment. It has only been 2 months yet the thought of the cult still makes his skin crawl.
2 months since the search, 2 months since the discovery of that damned cult, 2 months of staying cautious for whatever reason, 2 months of...
Okay, you get the point. It haunted him. Ever since the day he investigated the noise from room 304.
But... Maybe it hasn't been the most horrible 2 months of his life.
Sure, the constant nightmares and night terrors are making him lose sleep, but his sleep schedule was already fucked anyways.
Despite all the horrifying things he continues to discover, he wasn't really... Alone.
Nullgrim.
It's been 2 months since that stupid joke he decided to say out loud. A joke. It wasn't supposed to be serious.
But yet he was dead serious about it.
And P. never denied or rejected it.
It has been 2 months since they started dating. 2 months of happier times, 2 months of proper eating, 2 months of not feeling like he's alone in this entire cult fiasco…
...2 months of waking up from a night terror in Nullgrim's arms— Hey, wait a second!!! Nevermind that!
What the message is trying to say, is that P. loves Nullgrim as much as Nullgrim loved him. Even if the joke was just supposed to be something stupid Nullgrim was supposed to ignore, it turned out to be a happy accident. An accident neither of them will ever regret.
Nullgrim is sweet. More sweet than P. initially had thought. He's always been there in some way for P.
Nullgrim may be cold and brash, but he's really caring. That's something he can't deny. He's always buying P. things, even if he didn't ask him to. They're always hanging in front of his door with a note on it. It's cute. P. thinks it's cute he cares so much about him.
Nullgrim...
He's so special to P. now.
A spark of light in P's life that's irreplaceable to him.
He's perfect.
His perfect little boyfriend.
His lover.
P. shifts his attention to a lake.
Oh? He had never known there was a lake here.
It's beautiful though.
The crickets creaked every so often as he stood in front of the dock.
He observes.
The lamp post on the dock casts a gentle glow on the water surface as the water laps against the stone walls that caves the lake in...
It's so peaceful here.
Maybe he should take Nullgrim out here sometime soon.
P. makes his way over to the edge of the dock and sits down, dipping his feet into the freezing water.
He shudders for a moment. God damn it's cold.
But, just for a moment... The cold fades away from his body as it got used to the temperature. He feels a little bit more relaxed now.
Man, for someone who doesn't take daily showers, this feels... Nice. Maybe he should take showers more often... Nah, he'll take them off-screen when the player isn't watching.
...Wait what? Bah, nevermind.
P. gazes into the water below his feet. the gentle current of the fish swimming below laps around his ankles, the wind blowing against his skin...
It's nice out here.
His mind is quiet, the world is quiet, it's something he desperately needed.
It's nice to not be constantly thinking about the cult for the first time.
Sure it's always in the back of his mind but, for the first time in 2 months, it's not something he constantly wants to seek anymore.
Good riddance to that bullshit.
The wind blows stronger. The leaves rustle louder...
The cult is finally silent.
...For a moment, only just for a moment, P. takes his first deep breath after 2 months.
A celebratory exhale.
He's finally going to get to relax without all this creepy nonsense.
Everything can finally be normal again.
[ THE OCCULON. ]
SHIT— What?
For a moment he swears he could've felt a static shock in his brain. God— the headache...
What the hell was that?
No— This is supposed to be a peaceful night out. He's probably just overthinking too much again.
Thinking about that damn cult... Fucking hell, it's ruining his life alright.
P. took another deep breath.
He tries to focus. Ignoring the heavy feeling in his heart that something bad is going to happen.
Everything is going to be okay.
The wind is blowing.
The leaves are rustling.
The sky turns a sharp red.
The crickets became silent.
The wood on the dock creaks.
Someone is here.
Static blurs in his head. His eyes are hazy. His breathing is jagged. Someone— Or something is here with him.
P. can't seem to move. No matter how much he wants to.
Come on, MC— MOVE, DAMN IT!
He utters to himself helplessly. He used to be able to face all the horrors with a strong resilience before. How come he's so... Scared now?
He held his breath.
Praying that whatever is coming towards him is just going to disappear. Like it was all in his mind. Or change its course of attention to something else, Or— Or just anything at all, SERIOUSLY!
...He just wishes it would just go away.
P. feels two hands grip at his shoulders. A voice speaking, but blurred by the static of his mind. He didn't recognize it— or it was too hard to hear over all the things going on in his head.
He trembles.
Is he going to die? Is it over for him? Is this his punishment for being a big fat narcissist and overglazing himself in the mirror everyday...? Okay, no. Probably not that.
He clenches his jaw. Bracing, as if whatever has its hands on him is going to eat him alive.
"...P? You're shaking... Relax —Snap out of it!"
Wait, that voice.
That unmistakable voice of comfort that always calmed him down from the nightmares...
P. immediately gasped for air as he felt himself snap out of the daze he was in.
"N-Nullgrim!"
P. Turns around, still trying to breathe normally. His eyes widened, shaking. He looks like he's quite literally seen a ghost.
"Holy fuck, what the hell happened? You look... Horrified. Did I scare you that bad? Shit, P. I'm sorry— Oh my god, I-I didn't mean to."
Nullgrim.
...It's really Nullgrim.
He's glad it's not something else, or this would've gone completely south. He could have potentially drowned too if he passed out, but... Okay okay, that was besides the point.
Nullgrim's breathing quickened a little, P. can tell from observing his chest area— Okay, he's not being a freak, alright? It's just visible from the way it moves rhythmically! He's just one to notice. His tone was full of genuine worry earlier. Shoot— P. Should probably apologize to him.
"No- Don't be sorry, dude. I was just— Overthinking again. The cult really, REALLY messes with my head. I just wanted to come out to get a breath of fresh air and—"
"Why the hell are you apologizing to me for?"
Nullgrim's question completely silences P. from speaking.
"Fuck the cult. Focus on me."
Nullgrim stares into P's eyes, his eyes full of worry and... Is he tearing up?
"Look— You're not the one who scared me to death, okay, P? Shut up and just let me apologize to you."
P. takes just one more deep breath to focus, his breathing finally returns to a normal rhythm.
"...Sorry."
"Oh my god, stop that."
Nullgrim takes his hands off of P's shoulders and quickly wipes away his own tears and sits beside him on the docks.
He reaches for his hand and locks it against his. P. squeezes Nullgrim's hand back.
"Okay, I'm staying with you now. Just to make sure you'll be safe."
Thank god P. has such a wonderful boyfriend that cares for him.
Nullgrim has a way of helping him quickly calm down from stressful situations such as this one... Ah, he's so grateful for his lover.
"...You know I was trying to find you, right?"
"You were? Why?"
"I... wanted to give you something."
P. notices a slight blush creeping on Nullgrim's face. Cute...
Oh, that reminds him.
Nullgrim has been out for nearly the entire day today. Maybe he got him something from downtown? Aww, that's so sweet.
"But, I couldn't find you in your room. I was worried something might've happened to you. You know... I knocked on like— literally everyone's doors in our apartment complex to try to find you. Mina said you went out, so..."
He seems so worried... Wait— Mina said P. was going out?
"Mina said I went out?"
"Yeah?"
"Weird. I never told him I was going out."
There was a moment of silence between them before Nullgrim gave his hand another small squeeze. P. squeezed back. Nullgrim blinked a bit before uttering out a response.
"Oh. The fuck? That is weird."
P. chuckles and looks ahead to the other side of the lake.
"Maybe he saw me heading out through his window."
"...Yeah, that's probably it."
Nullgrim muttered quietly.
The silence of the night returns, this time with reassurance. As P's hand intertwines with Nullgrim's, he feels a sense of safety from everything. Like nothing can hurt him here as long as Nullgrim is with him.
I mean, I guess that's true in a way, since the guy is a whole entire cosmic entity fighting off evil cult powers or whatever...
But, it feels special. At least to P.
How can it not feel that way?
I mean— Nullgrim has never been as kind and caring to anyone like this before, and to have the privilege of being out here with him one on one feels like a dream come true. It stirs up a fluffy feeling in his heart.
He really does love Nullgrim, huh?
The gentle breeze blows a part of P's bangs to the side as some steam escapes his mouth. He lifts up his scarf to cover his nose with his free hand. Nullgrim takes notice of this and gives P. his hat, which P. happily accepts. They look off into the edge of the lake together.
"...I didn't know there was a lake out here."
Nullgrim was the first to break the silence between them after a while.
" ...Me neither. But it’s nice out here."
"It is. The water is a bit cold though,"
Nullgrim complains as he kicks the water with his left foot, watching it splash further forward to the middle of the lake.
A slight chuckle comes from P.
"Yeah, that's true. I like that it's cold though."
He swings his legs in the water, creating small ripples in the lake below. He's surprised it doesn't feel as numb as it's supposed to be.
"... It's beautiful out here."
P. smiles softly, tightening his grip on Nullgrim's hand.
"It is."
Nullgrim tightens his grip in return. Smiling softly as well.
"It's more beautiful with you here, though."
P. teases, his smile turning to a smug grin.
"Hah, stop teasing me..."
Nullgrim nervously looks away from P. —Avoiding his gaze.
"Ain't teasin', I'm dead serious, Nullgrim."
A silence drones over them both once more. P. turns to look at Nullgrim and catches a glimpse of him blushing. He giggles at the sight of it, causing Nullgrim to stammer and whack him in the back softly.
"Idiot, stop laughing—!!"
The expression on Nullgrim's face says it all. He's embarrassed about getting caught being all blushy-blushy like that. How adorable...
"Ouuch~ Why would you hit your dear beloved like this, Nullgrim? Oh, boohoo..."
P. sniffles and fake cries, looking at Nullgrim with the most pitiful eyes he could force out. Nullgrim grumbles at the sight of that and gently pushes his shoulders away.
"Oh hush— Please..."
He finally cracks a smile at the corner of his lips, which causes P's grin to grow wider as he pulls Nullgrim into a shoulder hug.
"Heh! You love me."
"...Of course I do."
Nullgrim leans his head against P's as he looks up into the night sky.
"I would literally die if anything happened to you."
"Oh stop it, you. I wouldn't let anything happen to you either."
He tilts his head, resting against Nullgrim's head and looking up into the sky as well.
The sky is full of various constellations and stars. It's not too visible since Sioux Falls is quite close to the big twin city, but Nullgrim can make out some constellations in the sky before them.
"Hey, P. —Look up there."
He points up at one star and traces it to the other stars around it.
"D'ya know that constellation up there?"
"Holy shit, you nerd... You can actually make out a constellation with your bare eyes?"
He laughs at his own teasing, but eventually squints his eyes at the sky curiously after.
"Mmh, nah. I dunno much about stars and constellations. Do you?"
"I read a book about them when I'm bored. I guessed it could be useful information in the future."
Nullgrim eyes dart to another star and traces another outline of it to neighbouring stars around it as well.
"Wow, that was surprisingly easy to find."
He chuckles.
"What is it?"
P's head perks up, curious about what Nullgrim is talking about.
"Oh, okay. Look at that star in the sky and look at the stars surrounding it."
He lifts his head up from resting against P's head and straightens his neck up and points at the first constellation of stars he previously traced.
"That there is the Perseus constellation. Do you know the story behind it?"
"Noope! But I'd be delighted to hear you talk about it."
P. cooed, making Nullgrim chuckle softly.
"Okay, okay. Legends says— Okay, well... Greek mythology once said there was a man named Perseus who slayed monsters..."
"He-ey, that sounds a lot like you, actually! Slaying those monsters from that cult, right? Real brave stuff."
P. jokes, smirking smugly at Nullgrim.
"Pfft, smartass. I wasn't even done yet and you're already coming up with the conclusions yourself early on."
He chuckles wholeheartedly.
"You aren't wrong though. Just— keep listening."
"Keep talking! I like listening to you."
P. moves his face up closer to Nullgrim's, grinning eagerly.
"Shut up."
He blushed with a green-ish tint, staining his cheeks and pushed P's face away, smiling nervously.
"...Anyways, so this guy killed Medusa. You know about Medusa, right?"
P. nods, giving Nullgrim a window to continue. Nullgrim nods in acknowledgement and continues his story.
"...So after he killed Medusa, he defeated some more guys. Pretty cool stuff. Then, he flew over a kingdom and spotted this girl who was trapped against some rocks, waiting to be devoured by some sort of sea monster."
"Ooh, scary. What happened next?"
It's not often to see P. getting this intrigued with his storytelling, but Nullgrim isn't complaining at all. He finds it adorable how interested P. is in this stuff.
"Okay, okay. Turn your focus over here real quick, P."
He points at the second constellation, placed close by to the Perseus.
"That there is supposed to be connected to that lady I was talking about in the story. Her name was Andromeda. That's what this constellation is named after."
"Okay, continue..."
"Alright, alright... So, Andromeda was waiting to die. Or nearly did die until Perseus saved her from death and they lived happily ever after. Until they both died, and were placed as stars in the sky that remains with each other, side-by-side forevermore."
For a moment, Nullgrim goes silent and gazes dreamily at the constellation.
"...They remind me of us, in a way."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I've saved countless people from those monsters from the Occulon and now I'm about to save you from it, too. And then... After it's all over, and the cult has finally been banished..."
"We can finally have our 'Happily ever after'?"
P. asks curiously, tilting his head to the side a little bit.
"Precisely."
Nullgrim nods.
"God you're so cheesy, Nullgrim."
P. laughed wholeheartedly.
"I love it. I love that about you."
"I would love to have that happy ending with you, my dearest."
P. leans in for a kiss on Nullgrim's cheek.
Nullgrim immediately stiffens up. His face heats up as the green hue on his face sharply darkens. P. just simply let out a small laugh and gave him a big hug.
"I love you."
"...I love you too, P.”
P. lifted his foot out of the cold water and sat cross-legged on the docks. Gazing back at the skies. Nullgrim follows shortly after. It was getting cold anyway.
The smiles on both of their faces were so genuine and real; They really, truly felt that peace they desperately needed to feel for a while.
“Let’s stay out here for a little bit longer. I like it when it’s just the two of us.”
P. chimes. Resting his head on Nullgrim’s shoulders.
“Sure.”
Nullgrim nods, resting his head on P’s head as well.
The two continued observing the stars together that night… Happily and at peace.