Mordeo x Reader
A/N: i’m not sure if this is the exact cryptid/monster i’m thinking of, but it’s the closest I can get to
“When will you talk to me?” The skeleton faced man with antlers asked aggressively. “You were offered to me, you know the rules.”
Ah yes, the basic old traditions of fear. Every 70 years, someone is sacrificed to Mordeo to keep peace and to ensure he doesn’t destroy the local village. It’s not set in stone that it’s every 70 years, that’s an estimate of the human life span. It’s more like whenever the human dies, then another sacrifice must happen.
“Fine. Don’t talk to me. You can starve and rot.” The disfigured man slammed your door. He stormed into his own room and groaned. You were very good looking, he specifically chose you. It’s not often that someone like you comes into the village. In his centuries of living, he’s never wanted to hold someone more. It was frustrating that you haven’t uttered a word to him since you arrived.
You put your head in your hands. This wasn’t fair. Why does everyone bow to him? You can all just move villages instead of doing this shitty tradition. Your stomach growled, the affects of not talking to him. He was going to be your sole provider which you hated, but if you want to last, you need to talk to him. For now, you’ll sleep it off and talk to him in the morning.
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You woke up and gathered your pride and put it in a box. You left your room and walked out to his simple kitchen. “Good morning,” you gritted.
If Mordeo could grin, he would. Alas, he lacks skin on his face. “Hello my dear, finally caving I see. The other one lasted 5 days before succumbing to their hunger.” He walked up behind you and pulled out your chair. “You’re putting your pride aside sooner than the others, I like that.” Mordeo couldn’t help but let out the little petty remarks. He wanted to be nice to you but bitterness was all he knew.
“Well I’ll be living with you till the day I die, I suppose. Better to get along than to die young. I will not hate a permanent roommate. However, don’t expect me to bend to your every demand.” You sat down and let him push your seat in for you. You nodded a thanks when he set a plate for you and did your servings. You hesitated a bit, even if it looked scrumptious, he could’ve done something to your food.
“Paranoid? Here I’ll try it first.” He grabbed his own fork and ate little bits from your plate.
You watched in curiosity to see how he eats. You wanted to gag and laugh since he didn’t have muscle, he just threw it in the mouth with his head tilted then swallowed. “Morbid,” was all you could say. It was kinda cool, if you could ignore that he was just a skull with a human body and antlers firmly placed on the top of his skull.
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Now eat. We have a day to complete.”
“A day to complete?” You raised an eyebrow as you started to eat. Your eyes then widened, holy shit he can cook. Your feet did a little happy dance that one does when they’re satisfied.
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Breakfast was done and Mordeo told you to put on a coat before you two left. He grabbed a basket and waited by the door, he tapped his shoe impatiently. You finally emerged and looked at up.
“So, what are we doing?”
“We’re going into the woods.”
‘Great. He’s going to kill me then feast on my body after just letting me eat breakfast.’
“You are aware I can read your mind right?”
Your face went blank with embarrassment. “I-“ You started walking. “I’m sorry. Let’s just go.” You wanted to think just kill me already, but you tried to make your brain stop thinking. That was so embarrassing to be called out. You wished the ground would just swallow you now.
Mordeo grabbed your head. “You don’t even know where you’re going. I’ll lead.”
‘His hand is so soft.’
“Thank you.”
“Stop reading my mind!”
“Stop thinking so loud.”
You huffed as he lead you deeper into the woods. You both reached a nice clearing where the vegation was thriving. It looked so peaceful and nice. You heard the birds chirping awfully close, you looked at Mordeo and stifled a laugh. Three small birds already perched themselves on his antlers.
“Everything in this land knows me as their protector.” Mordeo didn’t know why he was explaining himself. “So they just like to be close.” He shooed away the birds.
“You don’t seem like a big scary monster anymore, but why show me this part of you?”
“I’m lonely. I want a companion, it’s why I demand a sacrifice. Everyone is too scared of me to bother.”
You felt a pang of guiltiness. Damn. “Maybe you should be nicer.”
Mordeo laugher. “You’re an idiot if you think kindness will get you everywhere. Look at me, you even just called me a monster not that long ago. That’s all people will ever see, all you ever will see.”
You scrunched your nose. Maybe you should be nicer.
“I brought you here to show you that on the inside I’m human too. I do want to get along. I’ve seen how you’re nice to everyone, I want that too.” Mordeo looked away, if he had eyes he would’ve rolled them.
“I’m sorry.” You bit your lip nervously. “I didn’t see it like that.” You grabbed onto his hand passionately with determination in your eyes. “I will be the very best friend I can be from now on.”
Mordeo would’ve smiled if he had the skin. You were truly the nicest of all the other people he had gotten. Nobody had given him the chance, all the others tried to run when they got to the clearing. They didn’t last long without their legs being torn out. “Thank you. I appreciate that. Go and pick some fruits. I think I want to make some deserts.”
You grabbed the basket and nodded. “Okay! We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m (Y/N) (L/N). I will try my best to be your friend as long as you can be my friend too.”
Mordeo took your hand and bowed. “I’m Mordeo. We will be the best of friends.” He felt his heart swell, maybe you could be the one. The one to get rid of his sad lonely days and accept him fully, just like he was in the beginning. For now, he’ll let time do it’s own thing.