(deltafell!Spamton x deltafell!Ephie)
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short story (likely 2-3 part) for how Spamton meets Ephie in the deltafell au!!
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“Excellent choice!” Spamton said mockingly, before motioning towards himself, “[Follow the leader] me, we need to get you [fixed up]. You look [top 10 funniest home videos].”
Hesitantly, still not quite believing that he isn’t going to hurt them right there and then, Ephemeris made their way over to Spamton.
Spamton, to his credit, noticed her wariness, and held his hands up placatingly. Though any calming effect may have been nullified by the smirk plastered across his face.
Eyeing him, cautiously, Ephemeris stopped just in front of Spamton, keeping an arm’s length apart from him.
Placing a hand on her upper back, Spamton guided Ephemeris to face another door, this one more concealed. Said door led into a hallway which led into winding corridors and stairs, all of which Spamton led Ephemeris through with ease. After about 2 minutes, the pair reached their destination, a room that looked to be a rather fancy bathroom, complete with an ornate light fixture.
While Ephemeris stared in awe at the unnecessary grandeur of the place, Spamton shuffled through a cabinet, some drawers and a chest until he returned to their side, bearing a pile of impeccably folded clothing.
“Here” he holds out the pile to a very confused Ephemeris, “You will [squeaky clean!] yourself and change into these [5 hottest fashion items], got it?”
Ephemeris, still baffled at this entire situation as it was unfolding, simply nodded their assent and padded over to turn on the faucet of the shower, before pausing and glancing back over at Spamton, still watching them.
“Erhm.. you gonna go or...?” Ephemeris fidgeted nervously, hoping desperately that he was going to leave and this wasn’t going to get creepy.
Spamton, for once, in the little time that Ephemeris had known him, looked caught off guard, face turning a light pink, apart from his already red cheeks.
“Just get dressed, alright?” he grumbled out before turning heel and practically storming out the door.
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Half an hour later, a clean Ephemeris emerged from the bathroom, wearing the surprisingly flattering and tasteful outfit Spamton had provided for them.
Spamton, who had been sitting in the adjacent hallway outside the bathroom, stood up and looked Ephemeris up and down, appraising their appearance, upon seeing them.
Suddenly self conscious, under Spamton’s scrutiny, Ephemeris did her best to subtly suck in her stomach a bit, something which did not go unnoticed by him. He frowned a bit.
“Ya look fine toots, no need to [hide and seek] yourself with me, ‘k?” he said in a tone much softer than Ephemeris would’ve imagined him capable of.
‘Who was this guy and what did he do with the intimidating boss who I met earlier?’
The silence between the two was palpable before Spamton broke it.
“What is your [nametag here] anyway? I can’t keep calling you Light<NER and toots, now can I?”
Ephemeris, still reeling from the gentle reassurance and pet name, took a minute before responding, “Ephemeris Callister. Ephie, just call me Ephie” she stutters out.
“Ephie” he said, trying out the name in his mouth, “Well, I take it you already who I am? After all, I *am* the [best salesman 1997] in Cyber World~” he adds cockily.
‘Annd there he is again’ they thought to themself.
Ephie nodded, saying, “Spamton G. Spamton, I’ve seen you on the posters and stuff”, to which Spamton’s chest puffed out a bit, pridefully.
“Well of course you have, I figure that’s what brought you to my little [soiree], what with all the [good eats] and such!” he teased.
Ephie blushed and turned away in embarrassment, rubbing her arm, “yea, about that.. I never did apologize for-”
Spamton made a dismissive noise and waved his hand, “Ah, don’t worry about it [dollface], let’s chalk it up to, say, we got off on the wrong foot, eh?”
Ephie stared at him, dumbfoundedly. ‘He was being so . . . friendly? And after that big old act earlier?’ They couldn’t figure him out. Physically shaking their head to bring themself back to reality, Ephie forced themself to meet Spamton’s eyes, replying, “Yeah, I guess so...” and then trailing off a bit.
Spamton laughed loudly and obnoxiously, “You really are a [shy little lamb] aren’t ya toots?” he quiets down after noticing that Ephie wasn’t also laughing with him and adds, “Err, you don’t have to be so nervous doll, we made a [deals out of this world] and I plan to keep up my end of the [bargain goods]. I’m not gonna hurt ya, okay?”
Ephie tore their eyes away from his, knowing full well they were going to cry and not wanting this stranger to see them at their weakest. It was just all too much. The stress of being lost and not able to get back home, the aching hunger, and not least of all, the fact that they were now being held captive by a powerful businessman in an unfamiliar city. It was too much for them to bear and they felt hot tears streaming down their cheeks.
Spamton had been watching this entire thought process unfold on Ephie’s face, and yet still was almost shocked when he saw that they were . . . crying? Jeez, he knew he had scared them, after all, that was the point at first, but this? He really hadn’t meant to make them cry. The expression of hopelessness on the human’s face was too stingingly familiar not to make his cold dead heart ache a little.
“Hey, hey, hey, toots, [doll], sweetcheeks” he showered her with petnames, “Easy, what’s with the [waterworks] huh?”
Oh man, he was getting way to attached to this little Lightner, already. ‘Remember’ Spamton thought to himself, ‘remember why you’re doing this, you need that soul.’
‘But’ his train of thought continued, ‘What would it hurt to indulge in a little comfort for now?’
And with that thought and Ephie’s lack of response on their part, still sniffling, Spamton approached them, wrapping his arms around Ephie’s now shaking form. They tensed violently, probably convinced he had finally changed his mind and was indeed going to kill them, before finally going slack in his arms, exhausted from, well, everything.
The two stood there like that for a long while. It had been years since Spamton had hugged anyone, let alone been hugged by someone back. Sure there were the ones who wanted to get into his pants and such but this was the first real hug he had in a very long time. It was oddly comforting for him.
He’d fully expected them to try to pull away right away and if not then, then surely after awhile. And yet, there she stayed, letting him hold her.
Soon enough, he realized there was a reason for that. Looking down at them, Spamton realized that Ephie had, in fact, fallen asleep. So that’s why they had gone slack in his arms.
Scooping them up and carrying them bridal style, Spamton made his way to another of the seemingly endless rooms in this building, this one a bedroom. Upon reaching said room, he gently placed Ephie’s sleeping form on the bed, before covering them up with a few extra blankets.
He allowed himself a few moments to stare at the now sleeping Lightner before him, taking their appearance in. Short, fluffy hair lay askew on their head, having fallen from its neatly combed position when they were set down horizontally. He had half a mind to touch it. They had a pretty face, he mused, soft round cheeks dotted with star-like freckles. They looked remarkably peaceful now, sleep taking away the fear and anxiety that had contorted their face when awake.
He could do it now, he thought. He could take their soul. Just a little effort and it would be his and his alone. He could finally see Heaven...
But Ephemeris Callister would die.
No, it could wait. He might as well enjoy the company of another while he could. After all, what a prize a human Lightner companion was. Certainly worthy of being paraded around, rubbed in the face of his enemies. Yes, he would keep Ephie around, for awhile, at least.
He glanced back at their sleeping form, still rising and falling slightly with their breathing. And he smiled. For the first time in a long time, he smiled, a genuine little smile.
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i didn’t proofread this either,, idc anymore, if u like it great, if not idc lol,,
EDIT: ive decided this is a good stopping point for summing up their first meeting!! so this is the last of the Thief story, though I will prob write other scenes from their relationship eventually!!
