[Response to This Ask @out-of-bitters]
The front door to the apartment swung open with a light shove as the demon shuffled in. No one but his stay-in guest should be home about now, he wanted to try and get Char feeling a little more comfortable with the rest of the place.Â
Walking by the bathroom on his way to the hall, Scourge got a whiff of fading fragrance and the barest hint of warm air. Had someone stopped home for a shower? Oooooor did CharâŚ?Â
Well, whatever. If he did, then good. Maybe thatâs a sign of progress for the other hedgehog. if not, then Scourge hoped whoever stopped home at least left Char alone. Shuffling the paper bags in his hands, the demon continued his walk to the room his friend was holed up in and gently knocked, easing the door open with his shoulder.
âHey Truce, dunno if yer hungry or anythinâ but I stopped to grab some grub on my way home. Hope yâlikeâŚburgers?â The demon paused and lowered his voice at Charâs curled up form, unsure whether the other was even awake. He craned his neck to try and spy past the turned back and quills. ââŚTruce?â
Char had tried, really tried to feign sleep, anything to keep his lookalike from trying to initiate conversation with him. But the way his quills had flared out, bristling at the sound of Biteâs voice more than gave away his wakefulness.Â
Not that he slept all that often lately anyhow.
It was wrong, to avoid Bites merely because of how Charâs mind had twisted his friend into some crazy fantasy, so, reluctantly, Char pushed himself up. He hesitated in turning toward the other, and struggled to meet Scourgeâs blue eyes, fought to keep them connected. His energy was wavering, not enough to be visible, but enough to be felt.
While his face betrayed no emotion, his energy more the spelled out the turmoil he felt inside. In regards to himself, and in regards to Bites.
Fingers moved, shakily so, in response.
~~I donât feel well today. Iâm sorry. Perhaps I can reheat one later.~~
Not necessarily a lie, but not the truth either.
And the worst part about all of it? Was when he finally did managed to meet Biteâs hues, his mind was flooded with all the recent memories used just a short while earlier in the shower. Cheeks heated, and yet his face managed to lose itâs color all the same. For the first time in weeks now, his expression was clear as day, impossible to hide.
Confusion. Panic. Confliction. Inner turmoil.
Just as quickly as heâd met those gorgeous hues, Char had averted his gaze and covered his maw with a palm. The shaking was damned near impossible to wrestle under control.Â
~~Iâm sorry⌠Iâm sorryâŚ~~ Words signed with one hand over and over again as he fought the surge of tumultuous emotions threatening to consume him. He couldnât look at Bites, lest those emotions spill forth.Â