Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

-x-

You have a lot of names.

The Puppet and Lenora Lake Murderer being two of them. It was a laughable subject, to you, at least, whenever you watch the news about it or hear words spreading around in this small city. People just have the tendency to speak whatever about whoever if they aren't listening, spreading lies all over the place.

It wasn't as if they were wrong, really. Though, the reasons were just picking under your skin— just a little. People were starting to become wary the longer the police failed to catch this so-called killer. They started to keep their kids home more often, especially after dark. People began to worry too much, squinting at anyone who may show any sign of being the murderer— with no luck of succeeding, of course. You knew how to get around just as easily.

A name stares at you from your notebook, disgrace feels like it drips from the ink. Another one. You have found another one. The image makes you grip your cup of early morning coffee tightly, just shy away from breaking the glass. An abuser. You had found another abuser. They weren't that hard to find, really. The signs could be ignorable but they aren't unseeable.

Above the name, multiple others reside, scratched over till the paper starts to tear. But those aren't important, those were already done with.

In the eye of the public, you were nothing but a murderer out for blood— victims chosen randomly. You were nothing but a sadistic killer who the police were never able to find the bodies of those you have killed. And when they do, they're little pieces of bones or flesh.

Though, you wouldn't say you're completely clean of such doings, you do still have good reason for them. It just never seems to cross any investigator's mind. Too stupid. They're trying to find you more than seeing into the reasons for those "random" kills.

How unfortunate.

But no matter. What the public has to say can be kept to themselves. Your work is your masterpiece for reasons justified, even if little saw fit.

Jone Anderson.

The names stared at you.

You stare back.

It is really just a matter of how long it takes to find the perfect time. This place needs sanitizing, and if the police were too blind to do that, then so be it. They can only dream of finding you, not with how... special you deal with the corpses.

Squeak—

Ah, speak of the devil.

The squeaking became horrid and you shift an arm to cover the edge of the seat just as a small being came running over. The tapping of each footstep made a high-pitched squeak not unlike a toy. Thankfully, it didn't hit the corner of the chair and, instead, began running around and under your legs, going in circles over and over. The burning colors of dark purple and brown blurred with red as it moved, sun rays flopping and flipping in the process with a starry nightcap.

Squeak! Squeak! Squeak—

You catch the thing just as it makes another circle around you, raising it up and sitting it on the table before you. A sharp smile tailored over the doll's face greeted you, golden and red button-eyes seemed to stare at your soul.

"Keep running like that and you'll hurt yourself." You say, poking a finger on the doll's middle.

Tiny arms raise up, clawed hands stretched out. "I'm hungry." A hoarse voice came out, demanding. So impatient.

You poked them again, making the arms recoil and a choked squeal come out. "When are you not?" You narrow your eyes, giving him a halfhearted glare. Using your other hand, you grab for the sandwich you've been nibbling on since you woke up, positioning it in front of his face. A grin stretches on your lips. "No worries, though, I have a little surprise for you, Eclipse."

The seams around the drawn grin on the doll's brown and purple colored face began to move, breaking and stretching out till the mouth opened. Sharp edges-like teeth wasted no time before taking a big bite out of the tuna sandwich. Tiny hands held the sandwich from yours, drawing it closer to their mouth. "Surprise?" They ask between bites, voice two-layered in that way you so adore.

You gave him a knowing look. "Hmm, a big surprise, actually." You run your index and middle finger up their leg all the way to their neck, mimicking walking. The rays wiggle at the featherlight touch, nonexistent eyebrows seem to furrow.

You draw your fingers again, making them jump off from Eclipse's small shoulder to the table, walking to the open notebook. Eclipse followed it with their head, mouth full of the sandwich, which was almost finished. Burning golden and red eyes land on the book where a name is yet to be scratched over. The rays wiggled excitedly at that and they used their arm to support their body from falling over, having had to turn all the way back. Your grin widens as you lean towards your doll.

"Excitin', yes?"

"When?" Eclipse snapped their head your way. "When when when? I'm hungry!" They drawled out, licking their tiny clawed hands. The sandwich finished in record time.

You take a sip from your coffee, now a little lukewarm. "Sooner than you would anticipate." You can't hide the grin from your voice, even behind the cup as you lowered it down, grabbing Eclipse instead. The squeaky pads in their feet made a cut-off noise when they tapped their feet over the table. You leaned forward, burying your face at the side of their neck's ruffles, and immediately smooching their pinkish-colored cheek.

Eclipse hissed, hands coming to your face to push you off, though, there was no real use of their actual strength against you. They like the kisses, even if they hiss and make a fuzz about it. The hissing became a gargled noise and you laughed, tipping your head back.

The doll's hands rested above yours which had taken it home to holding them by the abdomen, just under their armpits. Both your hands involved their whole waist, and it was hard to hold the urge not to squeeze them. "Oh, babydoll, you're just adorable."

"I'm not adorable."

"You are." You made kissy noises with your lips, smiling as Eclipse folded their arms. "So adorable and cute. I might just eat you."

"I'm the flesh-eater here!" Their voice became a little high-pitched, snapping their teeth at you. You snapped yours in turn. Honestly, you knew he could eat you in one bite if he so wished, especially if he showed his true form. Those tiny claws are ten times sharper, and not to mention the teeth. He was terrifying when possessing his true form. To you, though? Not so much.

"Sure you are," You wink, taking another sip of your coffee. "Our date is tonight, around eleven o'clock, by the way."

The seams around their mouth began to fold in again, closing. Despite that, their words are not muffled. "Oh?"

You nod. It was just a small code to "The mission is tonight", but no one has to know about that. Your gaze trails back over the name written down, lingering over it.

A festival is tonight.

-x-

You adjust your mask, pressed comfortably and hiding all your face. Blackened holes are where you gaze through, shifting in your place.

It was no wonder why some gave you the name "The Puppet". Your mask is unmistakable. It was white with reddish pronounced cheeks and lips. Two streaks of a bluish purple drawn like waterfalls from the mask's eyes to its mouth, mimicking tears. It had a grin, wide not unlike Eclipse's. It stretched towards the cheeks, blackened just like the eyes.

A great mask that you adore. Your name is marked with this mask wherever you go.

The night is young and the moon hovers half-full in the skies. Wind sweeps by, chilling but refreshing all the same. The stars are barely visible, few glimmer whenever you settle your eyes on them, others seem too dull to do anything but be there.

You make sure your hood is hooked tightly so it won't fall, clipped to the side of your mask. It was better than fixing the hood every time you move. You jump carefully down from your spot over the tree, having been watching the house from afar. The man is moving.

The house wasn't empty. Though, aside from the kid and the man, there really wasn't anyone else in there. You sneak around, twisting the doorknob slowly— it's closed. That's good. You move again, certain and careful not to be spotted. It was a slightly deserted area, but that only made it easier to detect noise. You'll have to be quiet.

A slight bit of movement would've jolted you if you weren't used to it, feeling little claws climb up your shirt not unlike a small kitten. A huff is heard, and you subconsciously move a hand to support their weight as Eclipse climbs all the way from your back to your shoulder. Golden and red button-eyes look at you, almost glowing in the dim light. The sharp and dark smile seems to stretch, rays wiggling and tiny legs kicking in excitement. You couldn't help but lift the tips of your mask and tilt your neck to place a smooch on their face, feeling them halfheartedly lean away with a grumble.

"Excited?" You whisper, teeth glinting as you smile before you jerk the mask back in place. Your heart hammers in anticipation as you round the house to the back. The smell of dead plants grew.

"Hungry." Eclipse answers you as if it were too obvious, and you muffle a laugh, giving them a look as they wrap their arms around your neck, supporting their body as you tiptoe close to the window in the back. Dead grass greets the underneath of your boots. It was dull and dead.

Using both hands, you hook your hands on the railing and haul your body upward, grabbing for the nearby tree branches to hold yourself. Your movements experienced, too silent, a jittery to it too if you were too excited. It isn't every day that you get a good kill of an abuser like this, and certainly not as easily.

The second balcony comes into view and you grip the railing with gloved hands, helping not to leave fingerprints and to make it easier to grab things. Easy, it wasn't like you had anything heavy with you anyway, if you didn't count Eclipse and the taser hooked to your hip. Your bag is small and almost empty other than the twenty bucks that you had there— it was really just a place to hide your mask and jacket in (and Eclipse, too).

You hop in with a grunt, finding the window half open. Your fingers wiggle excitedly as they grab it and shift it upward before moving it to the right, opening the glass window with little noise. It leads to a bedroom, which you can tell belonged to the parents. It was empty and dull, as if whoever lived here didn't believe they'd stay long enough to make it personal.

Eclipse looks around, sniffing the air. Tiny claws point to the left which you follow, leading to a hallway. The door in front is ajar, little blue light from a nightlight seems to illuminate the dim hallway.

You inch closer, clothes fluid not making any noise as you slow down. Your hands come in contact with the cold wooden door and you slowly open it, looking inside.

Eclipse's weight shifts on you and your eyes widen behind the mask, disgust filling your core as anger sparked anew. Jone stands before a car-themed bed, seeming to be the most decorated room in this place. Sleeping on the bed is a little boy, unaware as the father caresses possessive hands over a bruised chest. He wore nothing but boxers, reeking from sweat it almost made you gag even behind the mask.

Jone doesn't seem to hear you nor does he see the small shadow that started to grow bigger.

Your eyes look at Eclipse as his form changes. The size turns from a foot-and-a-half-long doll to an almost nine-foot demon. The grin is no longer just made of fabric, it glints in the nightlight with needle-sharp teeth wicked into a smile. It stretches up, furious and predatory but also hungry and excited. Burning eyes zero on the man, claws stretching in and out as he tips closer. Hunched over Eclipse was, their spine sharp and pointy as their hands harshly wrapped around Jone's mouth, preventing him from screaming.

"Naughty naughty..." They crooned, pressing the man against them as he seized up in shock, wide eyes struggled to look all the way upward at Eclipse's face— and as their eyes met, he began to kick around even more. Muffled screaming is barely heard as Eclipse presses their hands tighter against the man's mouth, bruising and harsh. It fell too silent as the kid continued to sleep, dead to the world around him. Sharp claws run over the man's chest, exactly like he was doing to his own kid not moments ago. The claws leave trails of red in their wake, painful but not fatal.

Eclipse is playing with his food again, not that you minded the show.

You lean back to hop on the small table, resting your chin in your hands. Today Eclipse seems a little too hungry to suggest taking the man to the woods— it would be better to hear him scream freely. But Eclipse is too eager, it seems. Behind the mask, you smile, eyes glinting whenever they catch the lights. A low raspy laugh escapes your little demon as he leans his teeth to scrap dangerously close to Jone's face. The man shivers, cries muffled forcefully.

"Ew." You say, amused, and mismatched eyes flicker your way. The smile on their face stretches till their eyes squint, rays wiggling happily.

Eclipse laughs again. "Enjoying the show?"

You tilt your head, raising your hands to mockingly clap them. "Encore."

Eclipse doesn't need to be told twice as his burning eyes land on the man again, his arms still around him as one hand comes down to his neck, squeezing. The claws dig deep, leaving animalistic scratches in their wake. It's a slow process, every cut is carelessly made, joyfully enjoying how the man starts thrusting again at the pain.

A whimper is heard next, and both your eyes and Eclipse's snap to the kid, who has started shifting, eyelids flutter a little before they begin to open. Golden and crimson eyes shift to you and you give a nod.

Hopping from the table, you make it to the bed just as the kid sits up, eyes unfocused as he tries to look around. Eclipse stood frozen— they truly didn't want a kid to see them. Your hands, careful and gentle, come to block the kid's view. He gasps, small hands coming to try and pry yours away. Sniffles started to build up and you pressed him away from the scene, leaning in. "I won't hurt you." You hush, moving the kid again and he took the hint, standing up from his bed. "Come here. Let's go downstairs."

Guiding the kid to the door, you motion to Eclipse to continue. He gets the memo, pressing the man to the ground further still. This is going to be a pretty sight later on for you.

Walking downstairs, you head for the kitchen, sitting the kid over one chair, and removing your hands from his view.

"Sorry about that," You smile, even if it wasn't shown— hopefully your tone is comforting enough. "What's your name?"

The kid looks fearful, shying away from you, sleep still clinging to him. Brown eyes stare, unable to see your face behind the mask. "T-Toby," He mumbled, tugging at his fingers anxiously, anticipating what the stranger in his house would do. "Who are you?"

"Just somebody," You answer with a shrug, moving through the kitchen. You barely find anything worth eating. Grabbing for the toast, you look back at the kid. "You like toast?"

A shy, timid nod is your answer, and you proceed to make the only thing available; toast and butter.

Heating the pan —there was no toaster you could see— and letting the toast get crunchy, you ably butter and move to hand the kid his share. Toby grabs it timidly, cowering away from you and against the chair. His stomach grumbles, hungry, and the kid takes small bites out of his toast. Good enough.

You sit on the counter, nibbling on your toast the same he does. It was plain, but it was something to get the kid's thoughts away. Hopefully, Eclipse doesn't leave so much of a mess. For the kid's sake.

-x-

It wasn't long before tiny squeaks filled the air, the faint sound of something small walking down the stairs fill the space. You glance up at the familiar sound, seeing Toby perk up at the squeaky noise too.

Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!

A moment after and a small doll comes hopping towards you, tiny feet making small noises the more they step over the dirty wooden floors. Small claws take hold of your hanging leg, climbing upwards till they sit safely over your lap. You move a hand to protectively shield them if they so happen to slip away.

Toby follows the movements with curiosity, yet fear, tilting his head to stare at the small plushie of a doll in your lap. You smile, running your hand over the burning bicolor of rays, kneading the fabric between your fingers. The motions earn you a loud purr, vibrating from the doll's chest. If compared to the purrs they make when in their true form, you'd say the latter rattles your bones. This, however, is just enough to make you feel them against your lower stomach and thighs.

"Full, babydoll?" You ask, leaning in.

You earn a hum from a very much satisfied creature. Well then, mention accomplished.

Taking the doll in your arms, you hop off the counter and fix your clothes as you do. Toby watches, a little in ease than before, but still pressing against his chair. You flick your hand in a wave, "Call the police, you know the number?"

"Y-Yeah," Toby answers, voice just above a whisper, and nodding his head.

"Wonderful. Have a great evening." With this, you walk up the stairs, leaving the small child to fumble with the phone. "Where did you kill him?" You ask after you reach the kid's room, finding no drop of blood anywhere.

The small doll in your arms points a clawed finger towards the parent's door, the doorknob twisted in a way that makes opening the door without breaking it hard. "No mess in the child's room." Eclipse says, purring loudly from a full stomach. "We should leave."

You hum, moving to the window at the end of the hall and opening it. Cold air rushes through your hood, fingers brushing over the windowsill in satisfaction.

Tonight was a success.

-x-

You have a lot of names.

The Puppet and Lenora Lake Murderer being two of them. Though, right now, you are just another human being getting ready for bed after a full night.

The lights were off, the AC rushing cool fresh air into your room, and the curtains closed to prevent morning light from bothering you. Tomorrow, after all, is a weekend, so no work for you.

If you didn't count the side job you have, but that's beside the point.

"Jone Anderson, done." You mumble, scratching over the name before closing the book, safely tucking it in the underside of your pillowcase. A job well done. Perfect. You'll have to burn the notebook later, though, just in case.

A yawn breaks your amusement, small tears gather in your eyes as you stretch. A long day too, but ah well, what can you say?

Gathering your blanket over yourself, you are interrupted by the squeaky noise of all the familiar creature heading toward you, and before you know it, tiny clawed hands started to help climbing up your sheets. You move a hand to support the doll as they reach for you, holding them above your sternum.

Burning yellow and red buttons stare back at you, sharp-fanged mouth yawning openly and tiredly. You snort, petting over the fluffy nightcap of your small monster, even if the word monster is the complete opposite of them. "Tired babydoll?" You ask, but only receive a small hum.

Eclipse snuggles close to you, and you hold them like you would a plushie, squeezing them gently against your chest. Their tiny hands hold your shirt tightly, pressing against you softly. They curl over your chest not unlike a cat.

Purrs began to build up in their chest, rattling against your heart, and with a full stomach, Eclipse was out like a light.

Your hands don't stop their petting, caressing the doll gently as sleep slowly crept towards you as well.

Adorable thing.

"Goodnight to you too, Eclipse."

Chapter Text

-x-

If you were to be honest, tracking down child sexual assaulters wasn't as hard as one would imagine.

It started out small. At first, that is. You would create a fake account on a random app, pretending to be a child, then, begin the haunt. Easy as that. And oh, the people requesting chats with you are an insane amount! Who knew pretending to be eight would attract so many unsuspecting bastards? It sickened you, the moment you woke up the next morning to find your private messages full.

But that only is step one.

Step two was to actually pretend to be eight. It proved harder than you imagined, and acting dumb only had so many benefits. Luckily, the people you were attracting had a somewhat zero IQ. They only cared about satisfying themselves rather than looking into who they were talking to. It only made your job easier.

Step three is to make the person give a place to meet up. That was also hard, as the person speaking to you would request a photo or a voice chat. Motherfuckers are wary, it seems. That's okay. You'll get through it.

It proved easier than expected to fool them. A prerecorded voice of a child saying "hello" was found and installed into your personal computer, so no static or echo will be heard. That was it would sound like an actual child speaking through. So, you began loring them in slowly, pretending to be a very shy child who would only say "hello" before closing the voice chat.

Poor fools fell hard for it.

"Hello!" and "Hi!" and many things you faked or edited into your computer were used, dragging the bastards like an animal. It disgusted you, having to talk to them and hear them try to manipulate you, but it was needed. Your plan needed patience. It needed you to keep going with the chats, to create many spelling mistakes, and to send random pictures of your "toys" to these people. Pretending to be a kid was tricky, any mistake might alert them to your true identity. However, you were determined. And you will get through with it.

You were giddy too. Your plan was working like honey.

At first, you would only beat the crap out of whoever actually sent a location to meet up. Dressed up with a bat in your bag, you would meet in a very deserted area (of course they would choose as such) and surprise the assaulter. The look on their face is always a treat, seeing the shock or anger on their face as they come to realize their situation. They are trapped. They can't tell anyone about this. You knew that, and you knew they knew that too.

Many were left with broken teeth or twisted ankles. Not to mention the many, many bruises and bleeding wounds.

It stayed that way for a while, the pace slow but going, until you stumbled across a woman who made your heart burn with rage.

This rage was in flames, roaring like a beast as you hit once and twice and thrice over the lady's head. The sickening crack of bones was heard in your wake.

A look at her children made your heart ache, sadness creeping up on you. What had they done to deserve the abuse they had gotten?

This woman wasn't a fool to fall for your trick, no. She was someone you had seen in a park one eventful evening. She was cruel to her kids, yelling and screaming at them at every small thing they did. Everyone noticed, but no one did a thing. Cowards. It made you boil, made every muscle in your body recoil in anger.

You followed her home and watched her interactions, studying her composure and methods. You wouldn't call yourself a stalker if it was for a good deed.

The domestic life these kids had was a nightmare. You had watched, day in and day out, as she beat and burnt her kids, who were left with no dinner or breakfast to fill their stomachs.

You should've known better not to let your anger take hold of you. You were always good at controlling your temper, able to put on a calm face when you were seething. Wild emotion fits aren't your thing, they never were. But this—

This was different.

Perhaps because you have been watching them, building up bent emotions at the view you get, or maybe how the cries of small children filled your ears every time you stalked them, but it still made your nerves prickle and your blood boil.

It shouldn't have come to this.

But this— this was how it ended up as—

You, in all your glory, hitting over and over at the lady's head as if it was a stubborn wood you're trying to chop.

You hadn't meant to kill her, that's for sure.

But the blood on you was proof enough, your pants the only things heard in the quiet room.

You killed her, and yet, you felt nothing but satisfaction. She deserved it, you made sure of that, but even then you hadn't meant for it to get out of hand.

You should've known better. You aren't qualified to clear a murder scene! The police will know the killer even if you tried your best to hide the evidence. Tracking and beating assaulters is easy, they can't go tell anybody because they'll be telling on themselves if they do, but this is different. This is murder. And even if the person deserves it, the police still need to find the killer.

You cannot be found. Not now. You can't let a damn abuser send you to jail!

You had to find an exit. You need to find a way to—

Squeak—

You tense, wiping the splutter of blood from your mask. The noise came from the hallway. There was no way the kids were able to get out of their room, you had made sure to lock them so they wouldn't watch what was to happen. The noise was too close.

Squeak! Squeak—

You wait, still as a statue, as a squeaky noise tap tap tapped over the hallway's wooden floors. It sounded too much like those squeaky shoes toddlers would wear—

The children weren't wearing any shoes.

They couldn't have gotten out.

They can't see this.

You stand to your full height, striding to open the door just a crack to peek into the hallway.

Empty.

That can't be right. You are sure you heard—

Squeak—

The noise was too close— You look down.

Button-like eyes stared up at you, the smile sewn on the doll's face sharp and wide. You stared back.

The silence stretched, the staring concept between you and a freaking doll did too. It was awkward. How did this thing get here? How was it standing on two feet?

The thing's face tilts, peeking into the room. The blood-stained floor greeted the eyes of the doll, blood seeping into the carpet. The space reeked of cigarettes.

"That was mine." Came a hoarse, scratched, and two-layered voice from none other than the doll. You gawked.

It was a tiny brown and purple colored thing, spike-like rays adorned its head in a burning color, and wore trousers you'd see clowns wear. Two red and golden eyes stared at you again, waiting, it seemed.

You blink from behind the mask. "No, it isn't." You blurt out, surprising even yourself with how bold you sounded. Completely not shy of saying what's on your mind, but this wasn't the best time—

The rays around the doll's head twitched, and you almost imagined it like an eye-twitch.

Squeak— The doll walked on small feet into the room, closing the door with its two tiny hands. You are still frozen, unsure of the strange thing's next move.

The doll stands near the dead body, almost as if admiring the mess of limbs on the floor. It stays silent, letting the air grow thicker. It's suffocating you.

Then, horrifically, the small limbs stretched. It expanded, the fabric almost tearing and blending into a black flesh-like skin. Oozing out like blood, the doll got bigger and bigger, more slender and lanky than not, and hunched its back down, spine sharp and poking from its flesh. This was not just a ghost possessing a doll. This is pure evil.

Red and golden eyes meet the black of your mask's holes. The staring concept of such bright and predatory eyes made your blood run cold, but you didn't relent to the fear. You were too far gone in your anger at the lady to do so.

Holding your bat tightly, you swing it over the woman's head, hearing the metallic tip of your bat hit a wet forehead. "You won't," You hiss out, feeling that spark of wonderful anger take hold of you again. It was rare that you let anger out of all emotions— normally very calm even during your beat-up to other people.

But this— this thing? It's probably here to harm the children too.

You can't let it do that, and you will die trying if it means stopping it.

"You won't harm the children," You continue, striding with thoughtful steps toward the towering creature. You were not afraid, you were mad. Perhaps the word goes for two meanings, but both are correct. "I will kill you if you even lay a finger on them."

The thing's hand twitched. Its razor-sharp teeth glinting in the dark. Perhaps you shouldn't agitate it, but it was too late for that. "I think there is some confusion," The raspy voice starts, a vibration building up in its chest. It was amused yet surprised. "I am here for the complete opposite."

You tilt your head, feeling your breath smack against the mask surface, hot and slightly labored. Your body was shaking— with fear and anger. You had no idea what you were looking at. "What are you?" You ask with a sneer, tone lowering down. You stop in your strides, boots just shy of touching the blood on the floor.

The thing's smile stretched wide, eyes squinting in delight at your question. "Flesh-eater," It takes a chunk out of the lady's flesh, using its sharp claws to cut the meat ever so easily, and presents it to you. "Want a taste? You seemed very protective of your kill. Made it easier for us."

"I won't let you eat the children," You tighten your grip on the bat. There is no way you could fight this thing off, but you could die trying. "I won't let you. You can take the woman, I don't care."

A tut is heard, the creature clicking its tongue and shaking its head. It wasn't amused anymore. Had you gotten it mad? You aren't sure if you enjoyed that or not. "No children will be harmed. I am here for this only," It takes a bite out of the meat in its hand when you shy away from it, blood dripping down its blackened face. The teeth discolor to crimson. "I am only here for this. Never a child."

It spared a glance at you. Eyes sharp, studying you like an open book.

"You're like us." It continues, standing again to loom over you. You feel your heart hammer against your chest, but you don't move to take a step back. It won't scare you. "We heard. We've seen. You're like us."

You sneer, letting out a snort in disgust. "Like you?" You mock in question, tilting your head. What could possibly make you like it?

"Like us," It repeats. "You kill rule-breakers. You kill the naughty people."

"Ha," You step back. "What is that supposed to mean?" It can't possibly know about—

"We've heard." It repeats again, an impatient tone slipping into its two-layered voice. "You kill rule-breakers. You're like us." It laughs then, voice rattling your bones. Its circular face is all you see, it's blocking your exit. "We rejoice in meeting you finally!"

This makes your shoulders drop. Your head reeling. There was too much going on. "You kill abusers," You realize, your grip on your bat loosening just a tad. "You're the creature that eats people,"

It sneers back, recoiling. "What mean words, me? Eat people? I would never!" It jests, dark humor at its finest, as it takes a bite from the meat in its hands, easily chewing and swallowing. It's jesting. It's fucking jesting.

You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into.

On that night you have learned the true face of the creature eating people in this town. It let you leave, but you didn't, staying guard at the children's room to make sure it wouldn't advance at them.

True to its words, it hadn't harmed the children. And if you would go by the words it had told you, you'd realize it had been watching the family too, but from the inside. It had made a child take the doll in. Clever.

After making sure the children were safe, having told them to go to their neighbor, you could finally leave for the night.

You went home that night with too many thoughts, clothes stained with blood, and muscles spasming. You were utterly exhausted.

So the moment you were able to claw your clothes off, you went into deep slumber.

At least you wouldn't have to hide a dead body anymore. That was a huge plus.

-x-

Weeks after are spent like the norm. You would fend off the money you stole from the assaulters and attend to your part-time job. You had slowed on tracking people down, letting yourself wend down slightly. It had been an exhausting few weeks, and your job wasn't being easy on you.

Not to mention the flaring news about the remaining found of the woman. Ah, so it had eaten almost all of the body, bones included. That explained the cracking sound you heard while guarding the children's room. Disgusting.

Ah well, not your problem. What you care about right now is sleep. You were tired beyond belief.

Hitting your soft pillow, you slowly ease into a slumber of dreams and restfulness, letting yourself relax while you have it.

Sleep drags you into its arms not long after.

-x-

You wake up refreshed, feeling the aches in your body all eased out. Strength fills your body with a full night's rest. It seemed like a good morning, a feeling you hadn't had in a long while.

You open your eyes to find another set staring at you—

Sitting up never faster in your life, you feel the weight of the thing sitting over your chest falls to your lap. You gawk, staring down at the doll as it fumbled to right itself, mumbling nonsense about being too rough. Without thinking, you hold the thing from its funny purple ruffles, not unlike a cat from its scurf, and raise it to your level.

The doll smiles, beaming at finding you have finally woken up. Since when has it been watching you?—

"What are you doing?" You all but hiss out, all your giddiness to a bright morning thrown out the window. Trashed. Ruined. All you wanted was a morning where you felt finally refreshed.

But of course not.

"Came to talk," The doll replies in a drawl, seeming both amused and irritated. It hung from your hand limply, swaying gently from side to side. Its voice is more high-pitched in its tiny form, betraying its terrifying true form. This wasn't happening. You are probably still asleep.

You mourn your lost energy.

"Talk?" You sigh, slumping against your headboard, and adjusting your pillow against your back. You were all of a sudden very tired, all the energy you felt moments ago reduced to ash.

It hums, as if it was the coolest idea a group of friends had.

"You kill rule-breakers too," It starts, still smiling big and excited. "And we kill rule-breakers. So we thought we could make an alliance." It doesn't ask, it demands. Oh, this is stepping on your nerves.

You gawk, not hiding your deadpan at all. "Alliance?" You all but mock.

"We have mutual benefit. You want them dead, and we want them dead." The doll says, kicking its feet excitedly. The bells on its shoes do not make a sound. "We can find more if we work together! I find the idea very entertaining!" It giggles menacingly, its noise making your hair stand on end. Creepy. It was also endearing in its excitement too.

"Entertaining," You mock again, tilting your head. "Well, I suppose..."

The idea... wasn't so bad, now that you thought about it. You could get away with what you're doing much more easier if you agreed, having a personal cleaner. You almost snort at the idea, welling with so much self-control not to let your face twist into your own joke. You weren't the crazy one here.

Alliance.

The idea is tempting.

"How would I know you wouldn't eat me?" You blurt out, holding yourself from shaking the limp doll in your hold.

"I could have. I didn't." It replies easily.

Yes. It could have. It had been in your room for God only knows how long, staring creepily as you slept. It probably even stalked you to know where your house was the night you returned from your first kill.

It had many chances. It still does. It was, after all, a big lanky creature that could break Human bones in one bite. The idea sent a shiver down your spine, realizing you don't actually have a choice in the matter. Still, the doll was giving you the benefit of the doubt— it's giving you a choice, even if it didn't need to.

It could kill you, it has all the ability to.

But it didn't. It wanted an alliance. Both of you will be beneficial in this. It will feast on the bodies of abusers and you will get rid of those people. A win-win.

Tempting. So very tempting. You'll have a very strong being as an ally.

Sitting the doll over your chest, its little feet making a squeaky noise as it sits over your sternum, you take in its sharp smile and bright eyes.

You hum, running a finger over the small nightcap behind its head, seeing the doll in close-up. One ray had a slight tear, though, instead of stuffing, a blackish liquid could be seen squished inside. Creepy. You could fix that, you do know how to fix tears in clothes, after all.

The black liquid pulsed. Endearing. It was endearing, but also creepy.

You think you can have that.

"Wouldn't my mysterious ally tell me their name, at least?" You ask, feeling a slight burden being lifted from your shoulders. It will be easy now. The people who harm children will get what they want. You'll save those children. The feeling bloomed in your chest, a new hope you didn't know you needed.

The doll's eyes light up at what your words implied, smile stretched upward. Its legs kicked excitedly, very not unlike a toddler getting a new toy.

"Eclipse." It rasps, vibrating with excitement. It really is endearing.

"Eclipse." You repeat, enjoying the name over your tongue.

What an interesting name.

Chapter Text

-x-

Your first mission with your small companion was... a mess, for the lack of a better word.

While, both of you had the same intentions, your ways of work were different.

You stalk. Watching from the shadows. This, or you would lure, using voices of kids for your aid.

Eclipse, on the other hand, would watch from the inside, pretending to be a mere doll and nothing else. He kills from the inside. Eat the remains of the abusers.

While these two do have some things in common, they still were two tactics that don't match easily.

This is where you are now, hissing in anger as Eclipse all but throws himself in the path of a small child. You hide, pretending the doll hadn't just climbed from your bag and all but ran towards the child. Thankfully, everyone was busy with something (either talking on the phone or walking home) and it was too dark to see well.

The child coos, grabbing the haunted doll in both hands. Her eyes sparkle as she runs her fingers over the doll's button eyes. It was clear it got her interest, despite the... more than a little creepy design.

This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go. You were supposed to stalk the father of the girl till they get home before making any major decisions, but Eclipse was too excited about a new meal to care.

You grumble under your breath, deciding to go with his plan then, even though you have no other option not to.

And so, the hunt began. You stalked the girl back to her house where she hugged her new doll close. The girl, who introduced herself to the doll as Sasha, knocked on the door.

You wait behind a car, waiting and waiting since there isn't much else you can do at this time. Eclipse was playing a very dangerous game, and you feared it would be his downfall if discovered.

A man answers the door, giving a once-over to the girl. She shyly shows her discovery, blabbering about how she found the doll lying on the ground where she came from and how adorable it looked, not to mention that it needed a home and it was too cold to leave it outside!

The man, with a quirk of an eyebrow, snatches the doll from Sasha's tiny hands, giving it a look. "No," You heard him grumble, squeezing the doll in a way you knew would be uncomfortable for Eclipse. "This shit's fucking dirty, we ain't having that." He says, pushing his daughter to the side none too gently and going over to the garbage can in front of his front yard.

"No!" Sasha cries, running after her father and grabbing his leg. "I want the dolly!"

"Get—" The man grumbles, shaking his limb to get the girl away. He doesn't succeed, as Sasha is determined to save her new doll. "Off!" He pushes her to the ground, clutching Eclipse tightly in his hand. "I will break it!" He warns, but Sasha is already crying, sobbing over the ground.

You tense. This doesn't appear well, and the man was getting too much on your nerves to stay still. You're sure the only reason why Eclipse hadn't broken the man's neck was because of the girl, not wanting to scare her.

Your hand tightens over your bag, uncertain what to do. It was late at night, the girl had just gotten from her friend's house, so no one but passers were around the street. If you could lure them back to the house then that would be better...

Or better yet, lure the girl away from Eclipse.

"No!" The girl cries, drawing your attention back to the scene.

The man has the small doll in two hands, departing both so he can snap the doll's head right off its shoulders—

Your heart sinks and you immediately snatch your mask from your bag, putting it on in a haste before you find yourself running.

You tackle the man, loosing his grip on Eclipse who falls limply to the floor. Sasha cries out, startled by your appearance. You immediately grab the girl, snatching her back into the house and closing the door. The girl sobs, breaking from your grip to run back into what you assume is her room, and closes the door behind her. You sigh, looking out the window. There's no sign of Eclipse or the man anywhere.

Great. He probably snatched the man before he could scream out.

Your shoulders sag down, tiredness eating at your edges. You felt exhausted, this mission was a mess, not to mention the close call that someone might have heard.

You sit down, fix your mask, and decide to wait. Eclipse shall come back when he's done eating. You might as well just get a small nap.

Just small. You can't risk being vulnerable...

-x-

You're woken up by a small whimper and a nudge to your arm. You grunt, swatting away at the offending person trying to wake you. This earns you a hiss and another nudge.

"Ugh," You groan, opening your eyes. Your head hurts, a headache building just behind your eyes. Sneaking a hand, you rub your temple lightly. "What?"

Looking down, you are greeted by the same burning color of the doll's eyes, staring at you in an odd way you can't put a finger on.

Eclipse supported his head with his hands, which would have hung by a thread if he didn't. They hiss, as if in pain, and that catches your attention.

Scooping them up, you give a look at their neck. That man has almost snapped their head out of its socket, and you aren't sure if that would kill them or not, but the thought is petrifying. Were they just weaker in their doll form? Could you fix it if their head actually came loose from their shoulders? You didn't like that thought.

"You're in pain," You state more than ask, but still earn a whimper that is uncharacteristically coming from the big "monster". Still, it touches a part of your heart you hadn't known existed, and that makes you tighten your hold securely over their form. They slightly tremble, and you can only imagine how painful a hit to the neck must be.

Your hand pet over the small of their back, as if to soothe them. Standing up, you look around. There's no sign of the girl, but the door she hid behind was still closed, so you assumed she was probably still there.

Walking there, you give a knock. There's a yelp followed by shuffling. "Call the police," You say, giving the idea to the small girl. You wished you could stand with every child you had to leave like this, but you can't. Not like this.

With this, you leave the house, cradling Eclipse dearly close to your chest.

-x-

"Stay still," You hold the doll, who sat over your kitchen table, still. "I just need to stitch your head back and you'll be fine, right?"

Eclipse hums, whimpering as you touch the broken seams that still hung around their small neck.

"Alright, easy enough." You say, clutching the needle with your fingers tightly. Was this like doing surgery? On an awake person no less? The thought was uncomfortable at best, and you feel some sympathy that Eclipse can't eat painkillers or numbing meds to help them out. You had to be careful.

Your words earn you another whine, but Eclipse still holds still as you use the needle to stitch their head back in place. With every break of the needle's head, Eclipse would hiss, and you can't imagine how painful that must be. Sure, they probably had a higher pain tolerance, but this must be a burning hot pain to go through.

"Shhh," You found yourself saying before you can stop yourself. What they did was stupid, but you can't have it in yourself to irk them about it in this state. "It will be alright," You continue, not sure why they weren't talking back. Perhaps they can't in this state, not with their head hanging by a thread. "I might also fix your ray too while I'm at it," You say, drawing a finger over the jagged edge of their upper left ray.

You start with the edges of their small neck, threading the needle in. Eclipse hisses in pain, flinching every time the needle breaks surface. You can't help but flinch with them every time they do, sympathy gnawing at your heart. A place you didn't know existed, and that leaves you wondering where it developed from. You are never this soft, what a broken doll can do to you?

This wasn't something you wanted to dwell on.

At the edges, you double the stitch to make sure it won't come loose before sitting the needle aside, tilting Eclispe's head this way and that to make sure their goo-y insides stay as that; inside. Satisfied, you rampage through your sewing kit till you find yellowish fabric in the mess. It isn't identical to the color of their ray and had dots here and there over the fabric, but it shall do.

"So, not telling me how you cut your ray like that?" You ask, if just to fill the silence. You were curious, though, of what may have harmed the so-big monster who's whining in your hold in pain. Sure, that man had it in luck— if the girl wasn't there, then he wouldn't have been able to do as much damage as he did. Their damaged ray must've come from a similar circumstance.

"Hmm," They whimper, drawing a clawed hand over their small neck, feeling over the new and raw stitches. You aren't sure if they still feel the pain from the stitch or not, or if they're harmed severely even in their true form, and you aren't sure you want to find out. "A child gnawed it off,"

You bark a laugh before you can stop yourself, doubling over in your chair. "A child was using you as a chew toy, huh? Oh God, that must have been painful," You don't mean to laugh, but you still do, The image was an ironic thing. A flesh-eater almost eight-foot-tall monster getting gnawed by a small child, peak humor. To you, at least. "Sorry," You aren't fully, but you still say it just to soothe the pout they send your way. They looked abnormally adorable with that pout over their face, and this fact sends you reeling. "Sorry."

Eclipse huffs, folding their arms against their chest, and watches as you cut enough fabric for their ray. They are uncharacteristically quiet too, now that you are sure they can still talk. Was it traumatic having someone almost snap your neck? Is it the same as a Human? Does it still hurt? Would it leave a mark?

Your questions aren't answered, not that you ask them, that is. You have no idea why you even have them in the first place, but that scare back then was enough. You hit and beat people (for good reason) but you still don't want to see anyone being hurt. And, even when you say you're cold, just getting angry at abusers says otherwise. You're softer than you would like to admit, even to big scary monsters like Eclipse. Curse your heart.

Gathering all you need, you start with pinning the fabric in place before threading the needle in. Eclipse flinches again, and you feel them tremble in your hold. Your gaze softened, trying to hurry the best you could. Does it feel like getting a tattoo, you wonder. It's painful but not undoable. Or maybe it just feels like plain stitching without numbing meds. The last sounds gruesome, even to your imagination.

You finish by cutting the thread and sitting everything back in your kit, closing the lid. "Alright," You sigh, looking back at the doll who was wiggling his rays, trying to get a look at the newly fixed ray.

Against your better judgment, you scoop the small doll and head to the bathroom where the mirror is. Eclipse grunts at being held, but does nothing other than hold onto your thumb for support. The image was adorable in all sense, despite everything. Reaching the bathroom, you stand in front of the mirror, holding the doll closer to it. Your hold is protective, as if someone would suddenly jump you two.

Eclipse looks at himself, tiny hands running over his ray. They stare like that for a bit, just admiring their new stitches and new ray, even if the color wasn't exactly the same yellow. Their tiny being looked even tinier in your hold, your protective hands held them delicately, as if they were glass and would break. Your heart was softer than it should, else you wouldn't be killing abusers who harm children.

Yet, here you were, feeling the same protective manner towards a being that doesn't need protection. You feel it pull at you, demanding to strangle whoever dares harm the small being in your hands.

"...Thanks, I suppose." They mumble, looking back at you. Those button eyes flash lightly, grateful, as they gaze up at you.

You smile, petting over their back and holding the urge not to squeeze them— you barely knew the doll, not to mention the reality behind its cute face— wait— cute?

The thought has your head reeling back. You're losing your mind. You already thought you lost it before, but now it's official.

"You're welcome." You hear yourself say, the smug grin over your lips softened. The urge never left, even when you try to smother it under. It lurks just behind your heart.

Perhaps it wouldn't be as boring around here anymore.

Chapter Text

-x-

"Someone needs a bath."

The ruffling of a noise stops immediately and a head pops from the bag of meat. Crimson and amber eyes look up at you. Eclipse, in all his glory, is drenched with leftover blood from the meat he had been chewing at. The smell reeked once the ice covering the meat melted over, having been out since last night, unbeknownst to you.

The small doll flashes a sharp-toothed smile, giving no indication that he is sorry for making a mess of himself. "Who?" They drawl sheepishly and teasingly, taking another bite just for show.

Crouching down, you snatch the doll by the ruffles, not unlike a cat, and they hang just like one. "You," you jab a finger at them. "You need a very hot bath to get all this blood off of you."

"Awe, really now? I feel clean!" They mock, giving you the best puppy dog eyes they could muster, and a pout crossed their tailored mouth.

"Yes, really." You leave no room for refusal. If left alone like this, there will be no saving the couch from blood stains. Not to mention, the reek of old meat blood will stick to their fabric. Standing up, you head immediately for the bathroom, which was in the second story. Reaching the small bathroom and sitting Eclipse over the sink's side, you start to gather some cleaning products for blood stains. Sure, Eclipse was mostly blackish, but blood stains are blood stains and you wanted that out, especially from around their rays, which are very not black in color.

Now, he was too small to be put in the tub (not including his true form), so the sink would have to do. Plucking the thing, you let the water rise to a lukewarm temperature, putting shampoo and blood cleanser in the water and letting the bubbles form.

It takes no time for the sink to become a small tub of water, and you gently ease the stubborn doll in your hands in it. Eclipse hisses, shying away one second and melting in the tub the next. The warm water doing its magic. The water made their fabric of a skin feel heavy, but your hands supported their weight.

"There you go," you coo, gently easing water over their head, rubbing the fabric from all the blood over their face. The water slowly discolored. "This isn't so bad, now, is it?"

You get a gargle of a noise back as an answer, indicating that Eclipse very much does not want to admit it. Despite that, it was clear with how relaxed they had gotten, leaning into your hand with a weight a small doll shouldn't possess. You chuckle quietly to yourself, rubbing their rays in that way they so like. They immediately melt into your hold, purrs building from their chest and rattling against your palm.

Grabbing a toothbrush you had gotten just for them, making sure it is for sensitive teeth so it would be very soft on Eclipse's fabric-like skin, you start to rub it in the places where blood is there the most. The white head of the brush discolored to a pinkish color almost immediately.

With one hand, you raise their arm to brush it there, earning yourself a small choked giggle. You mumble a quick, "Sorry," before continuing. Technically, Eclipse could take his little jester pants off, but you didn't need him to do that this time. Most of the blood is on his face and hands, only small droplets had gotten on his dark trousers, thankfully, so the pants were mostly saved.

Bubbles cling to his skin, and Eclipse would swat at them when they breach his face.

At some point he sneezes, but you don't ask how the hell he could breathe in the first place...

Tiny hands held your wrist for support, fully enjoying the attention as you cleaned the blood from their face. The smell of flowers was heavy from the shampoo you've used.

"Enjoying this much?" You tease, rubbing their hand gently, feeling the small claws they adorned against your fingers.

They pout at this, a comically funny sight, and snatch their hand from yours to fold their arms against their chest.

You laughed, cupping your hands against their body in a comforting gesture. "No, don't be upset," you coo, wanting so badly to smooch their face. "I'm sorry." You certainly are not, and they know that.

Still, Eclipse relents and leans against you once more, their purrs getting louder. Never was a talker, but that's fine, you can talk for the both of you.

Draining the sink, you start to rinse them up with lukewarm water, letting all the shampoo out of their limbs by gently squeezing. Then, you burrito fold them in a towel, much to their groans and hisses, and take your freshly made burrito to your room.

Eclipse, of course, hisses and grunts the whole way there. Tiny arms and legs thrusting inside the towel.

Gently putting them on the bed, you can't help but pause to admire them for a second. Eclipse glared up at you with big button-like eyes. "Awe, come on," you smile, gathering your hair dryer. "I bet it's cold without the towel."

"You don't have to wrap me up like this!" Came a gargled hiss from the squirming being over your bed. You knew they can slice the towel if they so wished, but they don't. They liked it, and both of you knew that.

Plugging your hair dryer, you start to unwrap them gently, soothing their head with little pets of adoration. Fully out of the burrito, they stretch, cringing at being wet with their body feeling a little heavier than it should. You help sit them up, your thumb petting their head. They melt into it as you turn the dryer up on low, letting the air blow against them in a way Eclipse enjoyed.

Little clawed hands held your arm for support, rays wiggling in the warm air of the dryer. You don't stop until you are sure they are completely dry before turning your blow dryer off. Sitting it aside, you finally get to pepper kisses over your doll's face, smooching their cheeks and hearing them muffle a cackle at this. It makes you grin devilishly, smooching their rays and forcing their laugh to bubble up. Their rays are ticklish then, huh? You're gonna abuse this new fact.

"Ticklish, babydoll?" You ask, kissing the side of their cheek as your hand rubs at their rays, earning the same purr to build up once more. They cackle, their laugh making their purrs louder. "So pretty and adorable," you coo, kissing each ray and earning yourself a chuckle. "How come I haven't eaten you yet?"

The small doll tries to speak but only laughs come out, now with the help of your hands drumming against their sides. Eclipse falls on their tiny back, kicking their legs at you with a squeaky noise each kick makes. This only made you laugh, relenting in your attack to let them catch a breath.

Eclipse falls like a limp doll when the attack ceases, lasting giggles bubbling up as they purred affectionally.

You chuckled, pressing a soft kiss over their forehead, hearing them huff at the tender act.

"You—You can't eat me," they challenge.

"Oh? Wanna bet?"

Surprisingly, this makes their expressions twist in a way it shouldn't and they wiggle out of your hold to hide behind a pillow, peeking at you. "You can't," they repeat as if that will make sense as an answer.

You smack your teeth together for show. "I could use a desert. I do deserve it, don't you think?"

"No!"

"Not even a small bite?"

"NO."

"Come on, I thought you liked me," you give him fake puppy eyes, blinking your lashes at him.

"We do—" As fast as the words left their mouth they regretted. Their face twisted in embarrassment before they hopped off the bed, squeaking miserably across the floor, and out the door they went.

You shake your head, snorting at the act. At least every day is a new experience.

Chapter Text

-x-

You are... taking... so goddamn long.

Why must humans require so much to keep going? Why do they need different types of food and drinks at certain times of day? They have to sleep a specific amount of hours—no more than it should or less—otherwise their weak bodies would not function properly.

Why couldn't they just be like him? Easy! He just has to eat one big meal and it will last him over two weeks! He doesn't even need to sleep, but a bit of shut-eye wouldn't hurt, whether he takes too long or not.

Sure... he doesn't particularly like it when something wakes him up, especially if it is a nap after a delicious meal (one of the best naps), but he doesn't need it, per se. He doesn't need it to survive. Mostly, he would need to sleep so he could heal, usually when he is in pain and would rather be in oblivion—it makes the healing process faster if he were to just lay and not move much, but it wasn't a thing that happens often.

In other words, he believes humans are needy little flesh bags that can move.

Except for children. Children are a red line that, if someone were to even think to cross, then he wouldn't mind a feast to snack on.

And you. Only because you have the same thinking as him when it comes to punishing rule-breakers and protecting the tots. And because you feed him outside of those "hunts", and he likes the food.

And you. To a certain degree (that is too high).

But that didn't mean you weren't still a human and would, still, require all the ridiculous amount of different foods (it wasn't that much), and had gone to the store to get said foods (and salmon for him because he likes it), and had not gotten back yet.

What was taking you so long?!

(It hadn't been more than half an hour.)

He was sleepy (contrary to what he had said before), and wanted you back so he could have you beside him on the bed (which he will never admit). But you are late, and Eclipse was getting frustrated and 'fussy', as you would call it. He does not know what it means but it sounded funny said by you and he would still scream that he was not 'fussy'!

The tiny doll huffed as it hopped from the windowsill where it sat, having been watching for your return. Hopping from the windowsill to the small cabinet, Eclipse straightens itself, its feet making a long, whiny noise of a squeak when they hit the wooden surface. He takes a look at the bed, the soft bedding and pillows are so inviting, especially in his small and 'cuddly' form. It made it easier to burrow into the blankets and snooze.

But you are missing, and that sets a sore feeling in him. Why must you go shopping now? It was nine, and, even when Eclipse (and you sometimes) stays late at night oftentimes, he, right now, is feeling sleepy and would appreciate you being here. Is that too much to ask for?

Button eyes trail to the plushies lining around the bed and pillows, mainly at the top. There weren't many plushies, and most were small. They sit there, lifeless, small black eyes stare at nothing. Why do you like those things on your bed? They are useless to protect you and might even attract an entity that would be delighted to have a new body.

Not to mention, they are ugly. Ew. Gross. Eclipse sneered at them, jumping into the bed (and almost losing his footing on the soft mattress), and glaring at said plushies.

Their colors are ugly (unlike him). They are not soft enough (unlike him). And they do not hold a conversation (unlike him)!

The plushies stare at nothing, but it feels like they are staring at him with taunting judgment. Some of them had smiles on their faces, unmoving, unchanging.

Eclipse puffed his chest up as if to show them he was superior and better, but all they did was stare at space. No words. No nothing.

Moving his arms, he grabs the nearest plushie, squeezing the fluff that lined the clothing of it. His felt-made claws pinching the fabric and the thing's face squish together. Eclipse hisses an insult at the thing as if that would make it do something in turn, but he knew it wasn't alive.

With a grumble, he tosses the plushie off the bed. It tumbles down and rolls away and to a stop a few feet from the bed. Growling lowly, the dark doll made his way further up the bed and grabbed a second plushie, this time sinking his claws into it before trying to strangle it with his own tiny hands. He does little regarding actually hurting it, but it felt better to try and destroy this stupid thing—you deserve better plushies! Or, better yet, the only deserving doll of you is him. The others are ugly and offer nothing but staying beside the bed looking gross.

Yes. Only him. Him alone. Why have other useless plushies when you have him!? Yes, yes...

He throws one after the other, the bedding getting unmade under his wrath of slaughter at the other innocent dolls. A few pillows fell down as well, but that didn't matter. What matters is clearing your bed of those undeserving, and he would say he is doing a good job.

In the room, growls and hisses are heard. Eclipse full-on jumping on the plushies and scattering them around. He had made sure (by a miracle) to not actively destroy said plushies. The last thing he wanted was for you to get mad and tell him to sleep on the couch. The couch! Alone! Or even make a small makeshift bed for him in the corner of the room (you had done it before) because he was being naughty. Naughty! So, no, he has quite the self-control in his body, mind you. He can control his anger well enough.

After an actively fifteen minutes, Eclipse comes to a stop above the bed, breathing the slightest bit heavily. His rays wiggle in irritation as he glances around himself.

The bed is messy. The blankets are halfway across the bed to the floor, the bedding coming undone from over the mattress, and some of the pillows have fallen down. Across the room, the plushies are scattered. Each and every one of them is in a different area on the wooden floor.

Tired but satisfied, Eclipse huffs a sigh out. A smile, that does not look the bit friendly, crosses his face. A job well done. A vanquishment done and over with.

Finally, Eclipse lets himself yawn big, his sharp teeth on full display before he lets himself lower down. The tiny doll sits on its knees before curling into itself into a ball, not unlike a cat loafing, and rests his head on his arms.

Another sigh escaped him, this one much deeper and thorough, and left him feeling completely relaxed and limp.

No more stupid plushies on the bed. It is his alone to sleep on (with you) and no other ugly plushie will take that place. He was much superior and better than any of those dolls, and now he could sleep peacefully.

A soft purr began to build in his chest in satisfaction, his tiny body curled up in the middle of the bed burrowed in the messy bedsheets. He can take a small nap until you came back, he believes he deserves a tiny bit of laziness as a reward.

-x-

Thirty minutes after he fell asleep, you come back home.

It was silent, and a silent house no longer meant peace.

Suspicious, you put everything on the kitchen table before surveying the house. The fridge had been empty, hence why you had to go grocery shopping, so you didn't believe you would find a mess there. The house is still intact and no signs of anything happening in your absence are seen. This is even more suspicious.

Walking upstairs, you immediately go to your room and peek inside. At first glance, everything seemed okay, especially with the dim lightning. However, after your eyes adjusted (and almost tripping over something), you realize that, no, everything was not okay.

The plushies, all of them, were all over the floor. Your eyes searched the room, landing on multiple plushies pitifully lying on the wooden floor and not on the soft bed. Walking further in, and avoiding tripping over any doll, you make it to your bed.

It was just as messy, with the sheets halfway down the side of the bed and the pillows on the floor. Not even the bedding had avoided being messed up!

At first, you don't see much of anything on the messy bed, but thanks to the silence, you can make out the unmistakable noise of purring. A familiar one at that, too.

There, lo and behold, was the bundle of a curled-up black and dark crimson doll. His face is set into something utterly satisfied and content, curled up like an innocent kitten to take a nap.

Your hands hover over the doll, fingers twitching as you weigh the pros and cons of strangling the small thing—but, in the end, you end up just sighing with exhaustion.

Leaning further towards the doll, you whisper in faux gentleness, "Hello, Mr. Jealousy." Your voice is lower than you intended, and the only thing you get as an answer is Eclipse moving a hand to pat at your cheek. The little bastard in a heavenly sleep to wake up, much too satisfied with himself. "What the hell did you do to my plushies?"

Eclipse curls further in, gripping the blankets in his hold with all four limbs. "Mine." He mumbles sleepily, his purring intensifying at the acknowledgment of your presence.

You open your mouth to say more but decide against it. Curse your heart—the tiny bastard looked too adorable for you to grab the edges of the bedsheets and fling him across the room.

That will have to be a punishment for another day.

Chapter Text

He doesn't understand the concept of showering. He simply licks himself clean:).

-x-

It would be foolish not to take a weapon with you when facing pedophiles, since, as expected, they could be ill in the mind and wouldn't care to attack you, especially with the fact they wouldn't take well to being fooled. Their night would be 'ruined', and all of that because of a 'wannabe hero'. That's what most of them say.

And, while most are delusional assaulters believing they could easily get what they want, some of them actually have a plan B for their night in case they fall into a trap. Their methods are questionable exactly like their minds.

This, of course, is why you have a taser with you. Other than the bat and knife, the taser is more for defending yourself, while the other weapons are to attack instead. If the world would allow it without you getting arrested, then maybe you would have brought more creative weapons with you—the more the merrier.

However, with your new companion, you wouldn't need so many objects with you. Eclipse was more into the thrill of the hunt than just sitting and watching you beating them, so they wouldn't take kindly to having their 'fun' interrupted with nonsense such as your ways of punishing them, no matter how cruel the method is, it is never to their standards. You don't mind or care. As long as you don't get caught and no child is harmed, then it doesn't matter.

Whatever gets the job done.

That's how you and Eclipse work together. It wasn't such a rough beginning, not as you had imagined, anyway. Sure, the first mission was a mess, but so are a lot of beginnings. Eclipse was ruthless—but they were careful too, following instructions better than you thought, especially when it comes to the harm of a kid. If you didn't count his hunts when hungry, then you'd say he is stealthy. They weren't being an ass to you, for the lack of a better word, as you had dreaded.

Working with them was easy. You find a pedophile, lure them into a place where no one is there, then let Eclipse handle the rest. No need to get your clothes too dirty. Easy as pie.

Not this time, though.

You had your fair share of wild and angry people whom you had fooled, but this was beyond your ability to handle, and you realize perhaps you have grown reckless, not watching your back as much as you should.

It happened in your early days working with Eclipse. The man you had dragged to the small woods was muscular in nature and big, towering over you despite the safe distance. He knew he had been fooled the moment he saw you, and he doesn't like the idea one bit. Foaming at the mouth like some animal with a temper, teeth grinding like a dog. The look he stares at you with is murderous.

Not exactly a new thing, but...

What you hadn't expected was the gun nestled under his shirt, as if he was also suspicious of why a child would want to meet in the woods, despite the way you worded your request: "There's a flower field there," as you had tried to mimic. "Mum would love it if we got her some!"

Apparently, he wasn't as foolish as a lot of the others were.

Well, he is, but he is also angry, and angry pedophiles are not in your list today. You made a mistake in getting too comfortable with a job like this.

And much to your bleeding luck, Eclipse had gone deeper into the woods when he heard the sound of someone else, separating from you. He was worried it could have been a child, and you prioritize that over staying together and keeping safe.

You had managed to knock the gun out of the man's hand the moment you saw it, thanking the stars that you were much faster than the monster standing before you, thinking fast instead of freezing. The small gun splashed into the mud a few feet away, just out of reach.

In your racing mind, you fail to calculate how close you have gotten to him to manage to knock the gun away, and you stumble to try to keep a distance—

It was in-a-blink kind of situation. One moment, you were thinking of the best way to solve this predicament, the next, you had a fist smacking you on the face, knocking your mask off and into the muddy ground, opposite the gun. You grunt, falling back, and cradling your cheek in one hand, while the other fumbles blindly for the taser, or knife, or anything.

It was the knife that your wandering hand grabbed desperately, and as you swung it, aiming for the neck, another fist came crashing over your face, bone on bone clashing violently and you swore you felt your nose crack—

Everything was happening too fast. And, as soon as the weight on you settled, it was lost. One moment, the ugly face of an abuser stared you down, the moonlight shadowing his features, blood dripping from his own face, and the next, you were staring at the night sky dizzily. Your mind reeled, fuzzy and clouded. The hit to your nose had you half knocked out, feeling hot blood ooze out and down your cheeks, clogging your nose.

The world tips back, inky veins splotching the corner of your eyes as you tilt your head, watching as a lanky figure yanks limbs off a flailing body on the ground.

The world tips back again, and darkness-like static coats your vision. You groan, wanting the feeling of your body to come back to you. Just floating at the back of your head didn't seem idle, and you wanted out.

Fuzzily, you realize you're about to faint, so you hold as much as you can not to let that happen. But, even busy with your will not to lose the battle against your own mind, you were aware enough to feel the hands that tried to sit you up, and you grunt painfully as the blood felt like it rushed back into your brain. Whoever had their hands on you paused, letting you lie back down.

You open your eyes again when nothing happens for a moment. Static coats half of your vision, the place looking much darker than it had moments ago, and you find the flailing body has stilled. Moving your head painfully slow, your blood rushing fast in your veins, you look up. Instead of the starry sky and moon, you find a set of eyes gazing at you like two blazing suns.

Faintly, you recognize them as your companion, who had probably been the one to touch you.

A whine leaves you when you try to sit back up, the place darkening and spinning in a mess of colors, earning another groan from you. A metallic taste fills your mouth as you slowly lick some of the blood, immediately regretting it, and spitting it out.

"Ow." You manage to say, leaning on something soft. Your mind reels, buzzing, and you realize you're lying on the other's lap. "Is—" you swallow when your voice cracks, tasting heavily of your blood. "Is my nose b-broken?"

The face twists at the question, an expression your hazy mind struggles to put a name on. Blank eyes searching yours as if possessing the ability to scan bones, lips curling at the edges. "No," they answer, running a hand down your cheek in a surprisingly soft manner. The eyes soften, feeling them squeeze you closer to them. The closure is foreign, and you feel unsure. "Not broken."

"Good," you breathe out, closing your eyes. "Good..." your mind buzzes, feeling like cotton had been forced inside your ears. When you try to open your eyes again, you find you're unable to. Warmth floods your body as another shift underneath you is felt, taking you closer to them. It was almost like being wrapped in a heated blanket, grounding and safe.

You don't struggle. You can't find it in you to struggle. Your mask is safely tucked against your face again not moments after, hiding you away, and when real darkness settled, you can't fight unconsciousness when it dragged you into its sweet embrace.

Perhaps the latter hadn't been just your blackening mind.

-x-

You feel cozy. Too cozy. No, more than you would a normal morning, which set alarming bells in your head despite the fuzzy feeling of sleep trying to lull you back in.

The first of things that came to notice, other than how warm it felt, was the sharp pain in your nose, flaring to your forehead and eyes and even upper lip. It made you hiss and grunt in pain, regretting having moved your facial muscles at all as dull pain was sent on every edge of your being, burning already frayed nerves. Your cheek also feels swollen, heated up with a bruise, turning a mixture of yellow and green with a hint of blue.

You wanted out of the heat. You want some ice over your face, and the idea has you fantasizing about it in your waking mind.

You wake up more and more with the continuous ache in your body and the vibration of your phone beside your head—

Wait.

You crack your eyes open, forcing them to open even when they protest. It was dim, either your curtains were heavily closed or it was still night, but the darkness was nice on your sensitive eyes, even when it made you want to sleep some more.

You try to move an arm, realizing you were trapped in your blankets. How much was it a good night's sleep for you to tangle up so cozily like this? You hadn't slept with your blanket tangled around you in ages!

If it just weren't for your nose or the growing heat, then you would've slept back in.

Your blanket moves.

It snuggles close, wrapping you closer. This was not a blanket.

Your eyes widen in panic, squirming about in the tight hold of your captive. You tilt your head to the side, seeing the all-familiar yet foreign spikes of your little doll. Not so little now, being in its true form and crushing you.

Faintly, you recognize the vibrating noise against your skin as a loud purr that rattles your bones, emitting from the base of his neck. Eclipse held you close as they breathed evenly and deeply, and, with every inhale and exhale, their purr rises and falls in sound.

You are trapped in a purring hell against a very big cat-like creature.

You had never expected to wake up to such a scene.

"Eclipse," you groan out, voice hoarse and scratchy. You were thirsty too. "Eclipse," you call again, louder.

"Hmm?" The rumbling purr hums, not moving to look at you. Their spikes are much softer than you realized before, and you move a hand to rest it over their head, trying to push them away. This promotes them to butthead towards the touch, oblivious to your ministrations, and making you feel a tiny bit guilty.

"What are you doing?" You demand, squirming again in their vice grip. You get no answer. "Can you scoot over? I need to get up." You try again, voice bleeding into a plea.

Despite your words, the creature above you felt like a heavy and heated blanket draped over you, lulling you back to a lazy day ahead. Your nose hurt, though, and you wished to take some painkillers to calm it down.

It was becoming hot, too!

"Eclipse." You groan louder.

There's a whine from the creature over you, but they scoot over and away regardless. You breathe a sigh, but guiltily miss the purr.

You probably should have adopted a cat instead of a demon...

Standing up, your first destination was the bathroom to see the damage done to your face.

As you expected, your nose was an ugly blue and red, though, surprisingly, no blood over your face. You side glance at the door, as if expecting the tiny doll to be standing there.

It was.

Instead of the huge creature, Eclipse was back into his tiny form and standing there with unblinking eyes, knowing you had a soft spot for when he is this tiny. Slowly, they draw their foot over the ground in a very jesting manner as if sensing your question. "We cleaned you up!" They exclaim, smiling innocently at you.

"With water?" You ask back, still staring at them. When no answer came, and seeing that little tongue of theirs lick their teeth, you knew exactly how they cleaned your face up. You internally grimace at that.

Sighing, you open the drawer to take your pills, taking ibuprofen to relieve the pain with a cup of water, before walking back to the door. Crouching down, you open your palms towards the small doll.

"You seemed to like cuddling," you say carefully, wiggling your fingers in invitation. "I am still sleepy."

Eclipse looks from your hands to your face and back again before making their move, climbing to your palms where your fingers secured them in safely. The little doll sat with its legs kicking excitedly. "Yes," they drawl out, unashamed of this fact.

"A cuddle bug, how adorable," you can't help but say, walking to your bed instead. The couch is nice, but your bed is nicer. Not to mention your aching muscles that demanded an actual resting place. You weren't lying, you are still sleepy.

"I am not adorable." Came the hissed answer.

You don't reply. This was dangerous ground, you remind yourself, you are talking with a flesh-eating monster who can chomp your head off with one bite. You can't let your teasing-self kill you, that would just be embarrassing.

Back to your room, your bed welcomes you with open arms and you all but throw yourself in, back first, at the sheets. Careful with the doll in hand, you gently rest them over your sternum. They don't change back to their true form, opting for enjoying the feeling of your hands over their back as their purr vibrated back again. Not as strong and rattling as their monstrous form, but still like a very loud kitten.

Eating can wait till you're not feeling like an exhausted zombie.

You'll probably have to call from work too, especially with your injuries. Hopefully, it doesn't raise suspicions. Though, you always get around just fine, so this shouldn't be much of a problem either. You'd have to go and buy makeup that would actually be able to hide the bruises—if someone asked why your cheek is swollen, you'd say it's just a nasty tooth. Happened once to you. Never again...

Sighing about the mental list you just created, you pet over Eclipse's back, "Thanks, by the way. That man probably would have killed me."

Eclipse smushes their face into your clothes, rubbing their head back and forth. The genuine gratitude has them pausing, stilling in place, before giving a muffled answer, "No more friend if you die, or cuddles."

You lightly scoff at the childish answer, but you'd be lying if it didn't touch your heart. "Friend?"

"Bestest friend!" They proudly exclaim.

Oh, screw this. If this conversation kept going you'd probably say something stupid.

And so, you let yourself be swayed by sleep, the painkillers doing their job at calming your burning nose, making it easier to breathe. Eclipse says nothing more, very content to just stay where they are atop you.

Everything can wait until later for sleep. And the cuddle bug with his adorable purr and face.

No, wait, scratch that—

Too late, sleep already claimed your aching body. You deserve the rest.