The second part of this mini Mahiru and Lawless AU! I actually had to cut a lot out of this second part because I didn’t want to make it longer than 3k or have it overflow into a third part.
In his hedgehog form, Lawless rested on Mahiru’s shoulder. His brown hair was soft and smelled nice but he wasn’t able to enjoy it much as Mahiru ran down the street. Lawless struggle to hang onto his shoulder without having his spikes hurt Mahiru. Apparently, the market was having a two hour sale but it began right after the school day ended.
“We’re here!” Mahiru was breathing heavily but he had a proud smile on his face. He took off his backpack and opened it with the order, “You have to hide in here. Sorry, Lawless, but I don’t think the market will let pets inside. It’ll only be for an hour or so and I’ll make you a wonderful dinner to make it up to you.”
“You’re going to stuff me in your bag? Nope,” Lawless jumped off his shoulder and scurried into the store. Cursing beneath his breath, Mahiru followed him. He hoped he could find him before he could cause a scene. It was a little difficult to find a small hedgehog in the crowded supermarket. He kept his gaze on the ground and bumped into a broad back in one of the aisle.
“I’m sorry.” Mahiru quickly apologized and he felt a familiar arm wrap around his waist to keep him from falling. He looked up and saw that it was Lawless and relaxed in his arm. Lawless chuckled when he saw the surprise on his face change into an irritated pout. “What are you doing Lawless? Someone could’ve seen you transform and discover that you’re a vampire.”
“I’ve been hiding that for centuries so you don’t need to worry about me. I have my tricks.” Lawless winked at him secretively and then showed him his basket. “Don’t make that face. You’re cuter when you smile. I got some groceries for us while you were running around looking for me. I got everything we need for chicken pasta.”
“Can you please not run off on me?” Mahiru sighed and began to walk next to him. He took out his groceries list from his pocket and made his way through the aisle with him. He had to admit that grocery shopping was more fun with Lawless. “Do you want any snacks while we’re here? As long as it’s not too expensive, I’ll buy it for you. You’re going to be living with me so I want to make you feel at home.”
“I have a part time job so you don’t need to worry about me.” Lawless placed a box of crackers into the basket. Mahiru offered to carry it when he saw how heavy it was becoming but he shook his head. “Are you always trying to take care of others. This isn’t that heavy for a vampire.”
“That might be the case but it doesn’t feel right making you do everything. You described a Servamp and Eve as a team and that’s what I want us to be. It’ll be nice to have someone around the house to help with the chores.” Mahiru said as they made their way to the check out. “Oh, I just remember something! There’s something I want to show you after we drop off everything.”
“Can I have a hint of your little surprise?” Lawless asked but he shook his head with a sly smile. Before he could grab the plastic bags, Mahiru took half of them and reminded him that they were equal partners. He looked down at Mahiru as they walked out of the shop and the easy smile he had. He told him about his day despite how he was with him for most of it.
“Sakuya and I were talking about what to do for the sports festival. I want to do track but soccer with Ryusei sounds fun as well.” Mahiru said.
Since they made their contract, Lawless found that his days were slower. He was used to the busy schedule of a celebrity so Mahiru’s simple life was a change of pace. It wasn’t as stifling as he thought it would be because Mahiru was fun to talk to. Lawless found himself enjoying his new life and his latest Eve more than he thought he would.
Mahiru unlocked the door and they walked into his small apartment. He told Lawless to put everything away in the fridge while he went to retrieve his surprise from his bedroom. Lawless had to wonder what it was but he doubted it would be much because Mahiru was still a student and couldn’t afford much.
“I found it!” Mahiru came out of his room with a shopping bag in one hand. “I honestly didn’t think I’d get a chance to use these but I’m glad I decided to save them. Now, I get to use them with you. This will be a nice way to celebrate our first day as the Greed Pair.”
“I’m more curious about what you got in that box now.” Lawless placed the last item in the fridge. Like a giddy child on Christmas, he excitedly reached for the box. Mahiru held it out of his reach and laughed at his disappointed expression. Usually, he would be angry that an Eve laughed at him but there was something kind and joyful in his laugh. He patted his head before he walked to the door with the box under one arm.
“I can’t open it here. It’s too dangerous. Let’s go to the park. The sun’s setting so these will be perfect when we reach the park.” Mahiru explained excitedly. Lawless’s curiosity turned to intrigue and he followed Mahiru obediently. As they walked down the street, he commented. “Isn’t the sunset beautiful?”
“I guess. I’ve seen a lot of them and they all blend together after a while.” Mahiru frowned at his answer but he didn’t say anything further. It was dark by the time they reached the park and Mahiru set down the box. Lawless looked over his shoulder but the street lights weren’t bright enough for him to see what was inside. Mahiru pulled out a stick and a lighter and a spark appeared between them.
“It’s a sparkler. There’s more inside so light one with me.” Mahiru told him and moved the box closer to the street light so he could look inside. He found sparklers and other novelty fireworks inside. Lawless took one and knelt next to him. “I got these to celebrate New Years with my uncle last year. Work came up so we never got a chance to play with them.”
“Does that happen a lot?” He asked and Mahiru’s sad expression told him that he was often alone.
“My uncle does try his best to be there for me and I understand that work is important.” Lawless waited for him to add a ‘but’ that never came. The light of the sparkler played over Mahiru’s face so he could see that he did feel a little lonely. That expression tugged at a heart he thought long dead. He wondered if Mahiru was holding himself back and stopping himself from voice what he wanted.
Lawless reached over and ruffled his hair. “If you want to do things like this with someone, just ask me. I’m going to stay by your side so you can count on me.”
Mahiru’s smile was beautiful, even in the dim light. “Thank you, Lawless.”
Mahiru hummed to himself as he made dinner for them. He was filled with happiness but he felt lighter than air. It had been a year since they started their contract and Mahiru wanted to make a special dinner to celebrate the occasion. He wondered if Lawless remembered. So much had happened that day but Mahiru didn’t regret making a contract with him. They truly became partners since that day.
A phone ringing cut through his joy and Mahiru turned off the stove. On the counter, Lawless’s phone rang but his Servamp was in the bathroom. He saw the name flashing on the phone and went to tell Lawless that his brother was calling him. He knocked on the door and called over the sound of running water. “Lawless, your phone is ringing! It’s a text from World End.”
“We were talking about seeing each other again so it’s probably about that. I’ll be out of the shower in a couple minutes but can you ask him when he’s coming to Japan for me?” Lawless asked and Mahiru gave his usual answer of yes.
Mahiru hadn’t met any of the other Servamps and he was curious about them. He hoped that he could meet more of them soon and talk to other Eves. The Servamps were Lawless’s family and Mahiru wanted to be a part of that now that they were partners. He returned to Lawless’s phone and opened the text conversations. From the text, World End appeared close with Lawless.
I’m coming to Japan next Friday and I’m staying for a week! I can’t wait to see you and meet this Mahiru. From everything you said, I can’t wait to eat his food. Mahiru wondered what Lawless had told his brother about him but he didn’t want to invade his privacy by scrolling through their text conversation. The next message World End sent made his stomach drop to the ground. I hope he lives long enough for me to eat his cooking.
Mahiru didn’t know what he could mean with that last sentence. Was he in danger and Lawless didn’t tell him? Did he know something about Tsubaki’s next attack and didn’t tell him? Was Lawless hiding something to not worry him? He didn’t know why Lawless would keep anything from him. They were partners and had to tell each other about everything.
He worried his lip, wondering how he should ask Lawless about the text. If he was in danger or if Tsubaki was going to attack them again, he needed to know. Despite himself, he looked through his texts to see if Lawless had told his brother about the war. They were mostly mundane until he came across a text that sent a chill through his body.
Lawless, you really need to stop killing your Eves once you get bored of them. Try to get along with your latest Eve. If you keep killing your famous Eves, the media will get suspicious. What broke Mahiru’s heart was Lawless’s reply.
My new Eve’s a high school student. He’s simpleminded and it was too easy to trick him into a contract. I give him a year before I’ll start looking for a new one. He’s a fun change of pace but I’m not going to settle with such a simple Eve.
Mahiru read the texts over and over again, as if the words would change or he’ll find that he read them wrong. But he didn’t and every time he re-read the passage he felt his heart being stabbed. His hands shook as he gripped the phone and his mind was racing. Lawless killed his past Eves? He thought back to the first day they met and how Lawless appeared unaffected by his Eve’s death. Now he knew why.
Then, the second part sank in. Lawless was planning to kill him. He acted the same since they first met so he would never suspect that Lawless had any intention of hurting him. He had always protected him. Mahiru laughed bitterly to himself as he remembered how Lawless tricked him by appearing hurt and desperate. He must’ve became a brilliant actor after being around celebrities for so long.
And Mahiru fell for his act. He fell in love with a lie. His heart crumbled and anger formed where there was once love. Lawless had been lying to him since the first day they met. He was nothing more than ‘a fun change of pace’ to him. Mahiru threw the phone across the room, not caring that it cracked against the wall. The shattered screen was in no worse condition than his heart so why should he care?
“Hey, what was that for?” Lawless came into the room and saw him throw his phone. Mahiru face was pale and his shoulders were shaking as his emotions choked him. It was rare to see him upset and he took a step towards him. “You okay, Mahiru?”
“Don’t say my name!” Mahiru ordered and his Lead, a black umbrella, appeared in his hand. He pointed it at Lawless, shocking them both. His grip on the umbrella was uncertain and it shook violently in his hands. He remembered the text and the sense of betrayal made his hands steady. “I know everything so don’t you dare say my name like it means anything to you.”
“What do you mean, Ma—” Lawless stopped himself when Mahiru glowered at him. It wasn’t the angry fire in his eyes but the tears that stilled him. “Let’s talk this out, Kid.”
“Yes, let’s talk about how you have been lying to me for a whole year.” Mahiru snapped at him. His next words got caught in his throat but he forced them out. “When were you planning to kill me like all of your other Eves? Today? Tomorrow? You tricked me! You’ve been lying to me since the beginning because of some sick game. I’m not someone you can play with. I’m a person!”
Lawless was reeling at his words. His world was shattering around him but he knew that it was his own lies that led to this moment. He didn’t know how Mahiru learned about his previous Eves but the pain in his eyes was palatable. He wanted to comfort and reassure him that he didn’t want to hurt him. “At first, it was like that but everything’s different now. I grew to care about you, Mahiru. I would never hurt you now.”
Mahiru lowered his Lead for a moment but the moment Lawless stepped closer to him, he raised it again. He opened the umbrella, creating a shield between them. “Do you think I’ll believe anything you say now? It’s a shame that you didn’t try to be an actor because you almost fooled me. Not again though. Never again. Get out of my home! I don’t want to ever see you again.”
“What about our distance limitation? You’ll die if we’re far apart for 24 hours.” Lawless protested as Mahiru threw open the door.
“Said the man that was planning to kill me and toss me aside!” He snapped. Mahiru gestured for him to leave with his umbrella but he never lowered his barrier. Seeing the hurt in his eyes, Lawless didn’t know what to do. He thought that it was best to give Mahiru a moment alone. After he calmed down, he would try to talk to him again and explain that he had changed.
Lawless stepped into the hall and faced him. “I really am sorry, Mahiru.”
“I’m sorry too,” He whispered. “I’m sorry that I fell in love with a lie.”
“Mahiru!” He called his name desperately to stop him but Mahiru had already slammed the door between them. The locks snapped in place and Mahiru leaned his Lead against the door to keep it from being opened again. Lawless knocked frantically on the door and begged him to let him in again but Mahiru couldn’t hear him. Mahiru had returned to his room alone and buried his face into his pillow.
Mahiru’s body and mind couldn’t feel any heavier as he went about his morning. His house was quiet for the first time in a year and the silence weighed on him. He didn’t know where Lawless was now but he told himself to forget him. It was still a shock to him that Lawless intended to kill him and he was waiting for their distance limitation to take effect. Until then, Mahiru decided to go about his normal, simple life.
He opened the door to leave for school. Mahiru stopped in his steps when he saw Lawless sitting across from his door, leaning against the wall. They both stared at each other for a moment and Lawless floundered for something to say. Mahiru was the first to move and closed the door again, returning to the safety of his home. He heard Lawless pound on the door and tried to tell his heart not to give into him.
“Please, Mahiru, let’s talk about this! We’re partners and I would never hurt you. You can’t hide in there forever. What about school and the festival? We can walk to school together and talk. Give me a chance, Mahiru.” The only answer Lawless received was Mahiru turning on the radio and blasting the volume over his voice. He cursed and slumped against the door.
Lawless knew that Mahiru had every right to be angry with him so he didn’t blame him for shutting him out. He didn’t think that Mahiru would find out about his past Eves. Now, he needed to think of how to tell him that he changed. He knew how responsible Mahiru was so he would leave the house for school eventually. He only needed to wait in front of the door for his chance to apologize.
On the other side of the door, Mahiru watched him pace. It didn’t seem like he was going to leave and sighed. He needed to go to class but he didn’t want to face Lawless again. Mahiru walked to his balcony and slid open the glass door as quietly as he could. He opened his umbrella and floated safety to the ground. He hoped that Lawless wouldn’t notice that he was gone and follow him to school.
Mahiru ran down the street. It was partly because he didn’t want to be late for school but also because he wanted to distance himself from his feelings as much as possible. He wanted to hate Lawless and be angry but his heart was split between the tender moments they shared and the betrayal. If only he could’ve stayed blissfully ignorant for a little longer.
Then Lawless would’ve killed you and that would hurt more, Mahiru told himself. Why did he have to fall in love with a lie?
“Mahiru!” He stiffened when he heard Lawless’s voice. Mahiru forced himself not to look back on him as he ran. He knew that he would foolishly turn back to him if he looked into his red eyes. He wished that his Lead could fly him away. At least him simple umbrella could create a wall between them when he opened it. He blocked out Lawless’s voice, unaware that he was warning him to stop.
He pushed his way through the crowd but then he was jerked to a stop when someone in the crowd grabbed his arm. Mahiru tried to pry his arm away but the older man tightened his grip and lifted him into the air slightly. His hand burned him like a flame and Mahiru screamed. When he saw the man’s red eyes, he knew that he was facing a vampire. It was midafternoon so the vampire had to be one of Tsubaki’s subclasses. The subclass snapped his finger and a flame burst around his hand.
“Let go of me!” Mahiru tried to kick the man. He could hear people screaming and running from the scene. It felt like his arm was going to be torn from his body as the man lifted him higher and then tossed him across the park. He didn’t feel any pain as he crashed to the ground because Lawless caught him and held him protectively against his chest.
“Are you okay, Mahiru?” Lawless asked with a voice full of worry and fear. When he saw the burn around Mahiru’s wrist, he looked livid and threw a glare at the subclass. Mahiru had never seen Lawless so angry before. He tightened his arms around Mahiru and growled, baring his fangs. “How dare you hurt Mahiru.”
“Lawless?” He said his name shakily. Lawless cupped his face and brushed his thumb over his cheek lovingly. He set Mahiru behind him and summoned his weapon.
“Just stay with me Mahiru. I’ll punish this man for hurting what’s mine. You’re my Eve, my partner, so I need you by my side. I know you won’t believe me but I don’t want to leave you and the last thing I want is to see you hurt. I love you.”
I had to cut two scenes from this. The first was a scene where Tsubaki attack them and Mahiru got his Lead protecting Lawless. The second one was of them going to a festival and becoming a couple. Maybe I’ll post those as independent fanfics.