I wanted to post my first tcoaal fanfic ✨🩷 it's from January and i plan to write more!
Part 1 of my TALES FROM THE GRAVES series.
I hope you like it 😊 I'll leave the ao3 link as well: https://archiveofourown.org/works/53360599
On a rainy day, Andrew Graves realized his new favorite thing is looking after a sick Ashley.
It was raining heavily outside. Dark clouds obscuring the ever-gloomy dusky woods, as thick mist surrounded the trees. Andrew appreciated the view as he finished his last cigarette of the day.
Reminiscing in the horrible events from last week was oddly calming to him. Once he crossed that line of eliminating his own parents, he crossed yet another by offering them to a demon, consuming them and discarding the remains to the ocean. It was wrong, it was illegal. But it felt right. He felt lighter than he has ever felt before.
He was content when he managed to find an old wooden cabin, located not too far away from the village. Thankfully, the rent was actually affordable. So affordable in fact, he thought he was being scammed. Fortunately, the owner was a gentle old man, who happened to be in the mood to help two lost souls, wandering through these unforgiving hostile lands. It was odd the old man didn’t pry about their lives, nor did he ask many questions at all in fact. Which was good in his eyes. He could get used to the quiet life.
Though, it was calm. Way too calm.
That’s when he decided to search for the cause of his nightmares. The one who makes him do these unspeakable things. The one who makes him mad and black out with rage and more.
Ashley Graves. While beautiful, is a rollercoaster of influence that can’t be left alone for too long. Andrew knew that very well, though he appreciates every second he can get, alone.
He entered the small cabin, greeted by a familiar, comfortable warmth. The cabin had an old fireplace that was very much appreciated during the cold days of the frosty winter. The fresh scent of petrichor from outside and the warm, cozy living room, made him sleepy.
He searched for his one and only favorite set of pink eyes, and found her sitting on a chair, looking outside the window. She was frowning, and appeared lost in her own silly dark mind of thoughts. Thinking was rare for her, so that was something of a pleasant surprise. Ever since they ran away to this cabin, she had been using that brain of hers. A new hobby, perhaps. Though it came a little late, he’d say.
He decided to stop admiring her from the doorway, and slowly made his way toward her.
“Hey, what’s gotten into you, lately?” He inquired, tracing his index finger over her neck. He leaned over her, giving her the affection he had been more open about giving her now that they weren’t being constantly monitored anymore.
She slightly shivered by his light touch, and adjusted her posture, while looking at him.
“Oh, A-Andrew, hey. How are you?” She asked, shifting against him. “The weather is shit today, huh? But that’s fine, I guess.” She said with a bored tune and waved her head. Andrew noticed that she was beginning to waver, her head moving a little too easily from side to side, as if she couldn’t balance her head on her own shoulders. She was beginning to slump forward, which prompted him to reach out to catch her.
“Hey! Be careful.” He said, holding onto her. Ashley leaned back, her head falling onto his shoulder. She left it there. Wordlessly, he pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, and winced audibly at the heat he felt.
“Yep, you’re sick.” He declared. Though he didn’t stop holding her. “You definitely have a fever.” He helped her stand up, hearing a mumble here and there. Though what she said next, he couldn’t even muster the energy to be surprised about it.
“Heh, Are you calling your sister hot?” The insufferable little sister she was, asked with her usual smile. Though wavering because of her illness. All he did was sigh in return. “Well, thank you, I guess. Big brother~.” Ashley smiled weakly at him. Though she didn’t protest at all to his help. The combination of her teasing and her letting him take care of her like this only made him want to help her more.
Ever since they both saw that vision, he’s been noticing that she’s been trying to get closer to him, and get on his good side. Though, for anyone else that would be a task easier said than done. But by virtue of their shared blood, he’s been letting her attempts chip away at him little by little.
She sat on the ample bed as he covered her in blankets. Andrew took her temperature with the thermometer and asked what she was feeling.
“So, let me restate this again just so you get it through that sick skull of yours.” She muttered something back, probably some kind of weak insult. “You have a fever, headache, and a sore throat. Not to mention you’re absolutely feeling weak.”
He remembered from back then how he used to take care of Ashley when they were kids. While their parents worked, and while they didn’t take the time to pay much attention to them. Fortunately, he remembered what their mother taught him, about what basic medicine and precautions he should take if he ever got sick.
One of the very few rare occasions she ever showed an ounce of care…
Shaking the thought of their dead mother from his mind, he returned his attention to Ashley.
“Yep. It’s been a while since I got sick. Maybe the starvation screwed me up real bad. Am I going to die? I can’t die, you’ll wander around, looking for hussies!” Ashley spat her dramatical nonsense once more, as she saw Andrew deeply in sight and covering his face in slight irritation.
“Ashley, let’s not start with your shit right now. You’re sick, and the more I have to hear your mouth the greater chance you get me sick too. So here, take this medicine and stay here while I prepare you something.” The tone of his voice was frustrated, it helped masked the fact that he was really worried about her.
“Dumbass…” Ashley muttered, though she obeyed as he grabbed a pill from the cabinet and a cup of water, swallowed when he poured it in her mouth for her.
Satisfied with her cooperation, he went to the small kitchen and prepared something for them both. It was time for dinner, after all, and Ashley needed some food in her body now more than ever. He approached the counter and opened a recipe book. The same one he used at their parent's home. He chose to bring it, in case Ashley would get creative with her newfound taste in taboo meat. He thought he should be worried about these bizarre thoughts, but he was content in the fact that he didn’t care at all.
“This will do. Easy and fast.” He decided, settling on a recipe of soup. It will fill their stomach and it goes well on rainy days.
While he waited for the soup to be ready, he hummed an unknown melody, as his mind started wandering off.
He was around ten years old, watching some cartoons on the TV, when he heard Leyley complaining in their shared room. He sighed and went to check on her. She was sitting on his bed, sniffing and hugging her precious green bunny plushie.
“What’s wrong, Leyley? You’re extra noisy today.” He sat with her and rubbed her back, affectionately.
“*sniffs* I’m dying, Andy!! I think my head is melting and I feel dizzy.” She complained loudly, and was as exaggerated and over dramatic as usual. Though even as she said that, she couldn’t help but hug him tightly.
He’s not surprised at all and returned the embrace, appreciating the sweet moment. He wasn’t sure if she had high fever, let alone if there was anything useful in their damned apartment, so he had no other option but to call their mother.
“Listen, Leyley. I’m going to call mom. You can stay in my bed if you want, I'll take care of you, okay?”. He saw her whipping her small tears and nodded, as she snuggled in his bed, cuddling her plushie.
He might or might not have felt jealous over a plushie…
He took the phone and dialed a phone number, mentally praying to whoever God or Demon that might’ve been listening, that their mom would answer. Thankfully, she did but he didn’t miss the sound of her exasperated sigh.
“What is it, Andrew? Is it her again?” Their mom’s coldness, as she referred to his sister as “her” instead of “Ashley” really showed how much - or rather how little - she cared for her.
“Hey, mom…can you bring some medicine afterwork?” Andy asked, with a hint of worry in his voice. “I think Leyley is sick, but I don't know what to do.”
His mother sighed and shook her head. Instantly finding doubt in his claim. “Are you sure she isn’t just putting on an act? That child always finds ways to waste my time.” She paused for a moment, leaving Andy’s resentment towards her own mother to grow each passing second.
“If she’s really sick, it’ll be a problem for me later. I’m certain I left some medicine secured on a white box, inside the bathroom’s cabinet. Take it and give her-”
Andy was taking notes of his mother’s instructions, making sure nothing escaped him, until she stopped explaining. She hated to repeat herself, so he only had the one chance to catch her advice.
“Then, I'll be getting back to work. I won’t be able to come home early, nor will your father. There’s something to prepare dinner in the fridge. You’re diligent and smart, so I’m sure you’ll figure out how to make something as easy as soup,right? it’s nothing to you.”
Andy said nothing, as the awkward silence filled the room, and his mother finished the call. “.....Take care, Andrew. I’m sorry.”
She always says sorry. Why does she even bother?
Ever since that day, Andy made sure to take good care of Leyley. Not wanting her to feel like she wasn’t worth being taken care of. It was the least she deserved for being his sister.
Andrew dozed off from his thoughts, almost feeling nostalgic. The smell of the soup made his stomach grumble as he hurried to serve two portions on the new bowls he and Ashley bought while shopping, a couple days ago. He set the freshly served soup on the tray and carefully walked to the room.
Ashley was waiting for him. He noticed her tired eyes focused on the tray and her face relaxed. He also noticed her body sightled gained weight. It was a good sign, telling him their days of starvation are in the past now.
“Beautiful.” He thought, as he carefully sat on the bed, next to her. He handed her the tray with her soup, as he took his to enjoy the meal.
“What took you so long? Were you daydreaming or something? My stomach screams and you leave poor Ashley all alone. Woe is me, I’m surrounded by deceivers!” Mocked Ashley, though it lacked the usual venom she could portray, likely thanks to the sore throat.
She was easier to deal with when she was sick and reliant on him, at least.
“Just eat the damn soup before it gets cold, Ashley. I made this for you.” Said Andrew, not in the mood to follow her complaints right now.
A comfortable aura surrounded them, as they enjoyed the sound of rain and the fireplace kept them warm. They started to eat.
Not even three minutes passed, as he looked at Ashley taking sipping her soup, (hoping she would like it), and saw as a single tear drop slipped down her porcelain face and a small smile appeared.
Another thing he found beautiful.
“What’s wrong, Ley- Ashley? Is the soup too hot?” He gently dried her tears and he cupped her face with his right hand.
“N-no, it’s just…. I just remembered one time I was pretty sick and you took care of me, exactly like this. With soup like this. Only you cared for me, when no one else did. Not even our fucking parents…. and yet, i still freak out of you leaving me behind, I’m…” She sniffled, unable to finish what she wanted to say.
Andrew thought the fever was making her emotional. He let the urge to kiss her forehead overtake his mind, despite her fever too. It calmed her down a little. But not enough, evidently, when she grabbed his collar to pull him and bury her face into his neck, muffling her sobs.
“I’m aware I've been spacing out lately, and I hate it as much as you but… after everything we’ve been through, I guess I'm starting to crumble. Ugh, this sucks. You’re the one supposed to be a soft gooey marshmallow.” She tried to lighten the mood with her mocking.
But only childish sobs could be heard.
“Ashley, for the thousandth time, I'm not going to leave you alone. I chose you. I care for you, more than any other being in this fucking planet. If i didn’t, i wouldn’t be trying to comfort you. Please, look at me.” He took her face with both hands and looked her deeply in her eyes. Forest green met sunset rose as if trying to communicate with their souls.
“T-then….can you kiss me?” She hesitantly asked.
“Kiss you… you want me to kiss you, on your lips?” He asked, as a slight blush tinted his face. “You really are sick aren’t you? Sick in the head…”
“Yes, Andrew. I want you to kiss me on the lips.” She said, not rising to his bait like she usually would. “Is that much to ask from your poor dying sister? Kiss me, I want it.” She said, slightly irritated he didn’t immediately accept her command. Perhaps Andy is really gone and Andrew’s was what's left.
A minute passed as he deeply sighed, thinking about his next move. In truth, he'd been considering the vision they both saw, but it wasn’t the time for that. Tonight, he wanted to take care of her.
Without thinking about the consequences for the moment, he closed the gap between them and kissed her gently. For him, who had kissed countless times, it was as easy as breathing, but he knew that for Ashley, it was far more special.
He let her savor the moment, as her trembling hands wrapped behind his neck and both closed their eyes. It was a simple, soft kiss, yet held sentimental value to them.
One step away from the vision.
At that moment, he didn’t think too much about it. He already crossed many lines.
Once separated, he saw Ashley, smiling as brightly as ever. He knows she can manipulate him easily. But for the first time in a while, he felt like he was doing it on his own will.
“Kiss me more. Give me more of you. Heal me.” She spoke in a sweet manner, as her pink eyes focused on him, forgetting the steaming soup on the bed.
Andrew indulged, embracing her and giving her a deeper kiss, this time filled with unspoken promises of something far more pleasant. She happily accepted everything from him, melting in his touch, as two starved animals.
A couple days later, Ashley was revitalized and full of energy!
Andrew, however…..might need another bowl of soup, as he got the cold for kissing Ashley, many, many times.
turnnoffyourmind
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