Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was always pathetic to him, choking back Abilify and Prozac daily just to fit in. The bitter taste of pills and water coupled well with the stale office air nearly weekly. Bored expressions and constant headaches just for him to be told, “I’m sorry Mr. Burns, we need to up your medication.”

As though it was helping him with the near-nightly delusions and aching addictions. To him, it was nothing but an extra trouble he felt as though he didn’t want to go through. Did it help? Or delay the inevitable.

Elliot would properly say it only did the latter, keeping him on the edge of his downfall long enough to tease him. He had his beautiful girlfriend August to thank for holding him together for so long. He loved her dearly, loved her so much he slowly learned he was suffocating her.

"Babe- Look I just- ugh!" She shouted in frustration. Her beautiful red curls bounced in the light like Elliot had always loved. Yet the eyes he fell for held anger and tears. "I can't keep doing this! I can't keep up with the constant controlling!"

Slowly her words fell onto his ears, keeping him glued to their old beat-up couch. What did she mean? Why was his love so angry and upset with him? He had done nothing but kept the same.

Elliot leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he watched the small woman sniffle and sob to herself. He tilted his head, the blonde strands following the movement. "What constant controlling? Darling, my love, what are you talking about?"

His voice was confused, and curious as August continued to pace around their living room. Yet even his concern didn't stop her from lashing out at him, lashing out at him for being nothing but a good boyfriend.

"Every single second since we graduated college you've been down my throat!" August's soft-spoken voice cracked with a fear he knew all too well, "You pick my clothes for me, what I eat, who I talk to. Where I fucking work?!"

Her reaction caught his attention enough to warrant him standing slowly. His movements were calculated as he approached his frantic girlfriend. Every step he took closer to her, August's breath quickened. The fear in her eyes grew as he reached to comfort his love through a panic attack.

"I mean look at you love... It's only because you need me too- You're a mess, my beautiful mess." Elliot tried to coo and comfort August.

"N-no I wasn't. I was fine... I was learning. I didn't need you to-" She flinched away, backing herself nearly into the recliner.

Instinctively Elliot reached for August, grabbing her by her forearm and yanking her to his chest. Her breathing hitched, stuttering in pure shock and terror as she was dragged closer to the male.

"You didn’t need me to what... Treat you so nicely and give you everything you wanted?" Elliot cooed softly, leaning closer to his love. He noses gently against her auburn curls, humming softly at her lovely scent.

Yet she only trembled, shook in his arms, and jerked as he smelled her. August’s hands reach to Elliot’s button-up, palms flat against his chest and gently pushing. Her arms shook as the tears flowed heavily.

"It's not nice Elliot... I have to hide the bruises and I c-can't keep doing this.." August whimpered, using all her strength to shove her way out of Elliot’s arms. The force of the push knocked her out of his arms and into the recliner with a loud bang.

She landed with a yelp as her head hit the armrest, her vision now spinning as she watched Elliot stand above her. The man was never known for his patience behind closed doors and here August knew she was screwed.

“No. No, you can keep doing this. You will keep doing this.” Elliot snarled as he grabbed her leg.

His grip was bruise-deep, littering her with even more of the blue-black the small girl had learned to live with. He yanked her forward, pulling her hips off the armrest and into his. August’s eyes widened with terror as she realized what she was feeling. Elliot was hard from her fear, from her fear.

“If you let me go and let me leave I won’t tell anyone what you did!” August screamed as she tried to kick and hit at Elliot’s chest and groin. However, due to the size difference between the 5’3 woman and the 6’2 man, she did little to no damage to him.

The blonde’s head tilted to the side, soft blue eyes locked with her green ones. “Why would you tell anyone about what I’ve done? You love me right.. right August?”

“No! I don’t! I don’t love you!” She screamed, “Because if I tell anyone you’ll never see me again!” August whaled, slapping at Elliot’s hands, “Why would I love someone who hurts me!?”

He’ll never see her again… Slow dread wormed its way into Elliot’s mind at the statement replayed over and over again. He needed to see her… His love wouldn’t do that right..? He was enough for her? He had to be!

“If you say you love me I’ll let you go.” The taller deadpanned as his hips accidentally bucked against her core, her fear enticing him into seeking pleasure.

August sniffled and swallowed down the bile she felt building in her throat. Her voice hoarse as she laid uncomfortably at an angle. “I love you Elliot… I love you, my prince..”

His sickening smile only grew wider as he leaned over her, their noses touching and breath mingling. Elliot’s grip on the young woman’s leg loosened, just for it to shoot to her hair, tightly fisting it.

“A lying dirty fucking whore like yourself doesn’t deserve me anyways.” He laughed out and yanked August to the floor.

Her body crashed to the floor, a scream erupting from her mouth. Her red curls a mess of Auburn and crimson blood. She gripped the wound on her forehead, holding together the gash as watery eyes stared at the man she once loved.

Elliot shook his head in disappointment as he metaphorically wiped his hands clean. “If you won’t accept my love, then I see no point in tending to your wounds. Get out of my house.”

###

The blonde sat with a heavy heart, phone in hand illuminating the room around him. Empty beer cans and cigarette buds lay at his feet, the surrounding area dark with regret and blood. His fingers ached, twitched, and throbbed from the bruised knuckles. His self-destruction lay before him as dull blues stared down at the multiple messages.

Elliot
August, I’m sorry...

Baby I didn’t mean to hurt you I just assumed that’s what you needed.

Darling please… please I need you I don’t wanna do this without you.

August… I had a ring...

Did I mean this little to you that you don’t even bear me a response?

Hello?
August!

Beautiful Girl <3
Please stop texting me Elliot, I don’t think it’s healthy for either of us to be in contact with one another.

Elliot
You don’t know what’s healthy and what’s not! You never did! Look at you!

You’ve destroyed me!! I can’t even look around my house without seeing you!

August!! Pick up the phone!!

Beautiful Girl <3
“Leave me alone Elliot.. it’s been 2 weeks. Just— I didn’t do this to you. Please just let me go.”

Elliot
No! I need you, please! I’ll do anything!

Anything! Please!

Elliot sighed heavily as he reread the text conversation for what felt like the thousandth time. He relived the pain of his last message turning from the pretty blue he had always loved, to a bright green that screamed in his face, “You were never worth it!”

He wanted to stumble up, to trip over the copious amount of physical evidence of his alcoholism, to run to where he knew August had hidden away. Elliot craved to find his love again, to hold her in his arms and love her like she needed. But the simpler action of bracing himself to stand forced a watery tingle to his mouth.

“Hell’s innit…” He muttered and leaned back against the recliner. “Leavin me to rot away…”

It felt strange, terrifying, and new to not have August’s soft hum in the kitchen anymore. To not have her walking to him, hands trembling as she handed him a beer. It had all settled in, deep within that he was the problem.

No one could ever love a monster like him, could never bear to be in his life. The few friends he had gathered throughout the years had tapered off relatively quickly once his lips touched the bottle. Very few of them wished to stay around after he began to lash out, to claim August had only used him for sex and money. Because after all, his darling angel had expressed her side.

Elliot Burns was a truly sick man, sick and twisted to the core.

###

Sober. When was he sober anymore? That was a question that Elliot thought of nightly since August had left him. She left him. She hurt him. It was all her fault and would always be her fault. He was the perfect boyfriend, the perfect partner who held their love close and dear to himself.

The seemingly bottomless bottle finally fell from his hand as he stared at the apartment door. A shiver wracked over his body as the lights in the house showed the owners were home. It was cold, a cold October night, something that would forever haunt his mind.

How was he supposed to move on from her as he stepped closer to the front door? How was Elliot expected to live happily and continue his mindless life when he could hear her beautiful laughter? It replayed in his mind, no amount of alcohol and pain could drown her out.

Elliot staggered, his movement slow and almost a blur as he brought his phone to his face. The bright numbers 1:27 am filled him with dread. Multiple missed calls from people he didn't trust littered his notifications. Old friends who no longer meant anything to him after he lost August. His therapist's calls and texts checking to make sure he was okay. Yet no matter what he thought, Elliot didn't feel like answering anyone who wasn't her.

The blonde looked up from the dim screen, locking eyes with the apartment door of August's friend's home. He knew she would run to her, knew his... ex had nowhere else to go. No why would she? He was the only one she needed for so many years, he took care of her so well… He isolated her.

So he stepped and stepped until he was within knocking distance of the door. His hands shook, anxiety and weakness forcing him to take a deep breath to calm down. Once calmer than before, he raised his fist and knocked as long as he could. From where he stood on the flowery welcome matt, Elliot could hear all laughter cease. He cringed softly as quiet mutters replaced the once-happy energy in the apartment.

The wooden door opened slowly to reveal his beautiful ex-girlfriend standing in all her glory. Her bright green eyes stared at Elliot in slight horror yet frozen all the same. From behind her, the male could see her friend walking back from the kitchen. The soft movement of August's friend seemingly snapped her out of her frozen state.

"You shouldn't be here..!" August whisper-yelled as she stepped outside, closing the door behind her. "Ell-"

The tears welled up again, his face feeling hot as he stared down at the redhead wearing the same old band t-shirt he had gotten for her. Elliot tried to quickly wipe the stray tears away, to hold onto his ego, but it only served to force more out.

"I- I needed to see you- Needed to hold you..." He muttered as he reached out for August's hand.

She hesitated, looking around the dark parking lot before allowing Elliot to grab her hand. "I told you to leave me alone."

Her tone, it stabbed deep within Elliot's chest, ached deep within his sick heart. A quiet sob fell from his mouth as his knees weakened. He tried to steady himself but his body refused to listen to him. Both knees gave out forcing him to the ground, making the broken man stare up at August in guilt.

"I know, I know I'm sorry I'm so fucking sorry..."Elliot choked out and squeezed August's hand, "I just couldn't stop thinking about you... Your voice and our memories."

The woman bit her lip, chewing at it nervously to ease the slow build of anxiety.

“The first time we met, you were a freshman and walked into the practice room I was in…” Elliot whimpered softly, “You were nervous so I offered to show you where to go…”

He recalled the memory so fondly that August couldn’t help but smile. “Then I asked for your number because you were the first person to actually help me…”

Elliot squeezed her hand, gently tugging her to her knees so they were closer. His eyes were still their puffy red, his face hot with shame. “Your first concert… I had gotten you that gig. You were so excited to finally sing in front of everyone…”

Vividly the blonde could remember asking his boss if he would allow August to sing for a night. Elliot remembered gathering his old band and practicing the song she had written. All he wanted to do was see August smile as she got a taste of her dream.

“I wanted to keep you in, add you to the band… but you still wanted to be a teacher and your studies came first…” Elliot sighed softly as he leaned forward, resting his forehead on her shoulder.

The action shocked August at first, a slight bit of fear shooting through her body until she watched Elliot’s body sag in relaxation. In an attempt to keep the man calm, she ran her fingers through his hair. The simple action caused Elliot to let out a soft moan, missing the touch of his lover.

“Ell… I remember— I know. But I still think…” Why was it so difficult for her to speak, the words seemingly getting caught in her throat. Elliot looked up, shuffling closer on his knees to cup August’s cheek. For the first time tonight, it felt as though he had fallen in love with her for the first time all over again.

Their eyes met, her jade greens staring into Elliot’s watery blues. He smiled softly, breath reeking of alcohol and misery, yet he tried to comfort the one who hurt him. August smiled in return, reaching for Elliot to pull him into a soft kiss.

Their lips molded together as though they were meant to be. They kissed slowly, tenderly as if it was their first kiss ever. Elliot thumbed her cheek, gently rubbing over the freckles he had spent many times counting. And August, oh she had her hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. To Elliot, this was everything, the perfect apology and way to get back together. He knew she would forgive him.

“Ell…” She muttered against his lips, he shut her up by placing another kiss before allowing her to speak. “Elliot…”

He hummed softly and pulled away just far enough that he could track August’s features. He watched her eyes fill with dread and her kissable lips form words that would cut deeper than he ever could.

“I know you love me still… But we can’t be together… You’ll be loved again one day but not by me, Elliot. ”

###

A fucking idiot, that’s all he was. How could he ever think August would take him back if he begged at her doorstep? Why did she lead him on that night, hold him, and kiss him just to say no? She wasn’t worthy of his love anyway…

Elliot had sat stewing in his own anger for the rest of the night, downing bottle after bottle, cutting horizontally to just ease the gagging urge. Yet it felt like no amount of alcohol and blood could satisfy the desperate need for more. He hated it all, hated the way his skin felt on his body, hated the way his mind reminded him of her nearly daily. He needed out, and out he would get.

He wasn’t sure what time it was due to having left his phone at home. The last time he checked in his drunken state it was nearing 3 am. It felt like bitter irony to him, August had always loved this time of night. A slap to the face that he decided to take with pride.

Elliot drunkenly dragged his feet along the dark wet forest floor. He didn’t seem to care about how disgusting or dirty he looked or felt, no he only had one simple goal in mind; he needed out. Unfortunately for the blonde, his drunken state caused him to fall multiple times, leaving him face-first in mud or on his back staring at the moon.

He laid on the cold ground, nearly drowning himself with pure hard liquor, eyes glued to the dark sky. What little warmth in his body seemed to seep out as his cuts oozed, the dark liquid coating his blue lightweight jacket.

“Get up…” Elliot muttered to himself as he rolled over. The pain of using his cut-open arms shot through him like a bullet, forcing him to take a deep breath before pushing on. “Not here… Too close to the edge..”

He grunted out as he used the waning moon for light. The tree stumps became hazardous the deeper in he went, many almost purposely tripping him to prevent him from going through. Yet to him, it didn’t matter, he wanted to push deeper and deeper as he did with his blade.

The letter in his pocket burned a hole, reminding him of his last words to everything. To hell with them, to hell with it all. That was until he found a small clearing in the trees, they opened their branches to a stone hedge of some sort.

Elliot had been in these woods many times but never had seen them before. He chalked it up to just simply never going this far into the forest. However, it didn’t matter as he found this small clearing with pillars perfect.

For a moment he stood in the middle, the moonlight casting down on him. The blonde soaked in the cold night air, enjoying the almost eerie silence of the woods. He felt at ease for once, calm with his decision to finish off the bottle and roll up his sleeves. After a moment of searching, he grasped the blade between trembling fingers.

Its cold metal felt all to familiar to him, his best friend in silence. Elliot pressed the sharp edge to his inner forearm and dragged it downwards. He hissed sharply as the stroke was done, laughing internally as he realized what he had accomplished.

“Hell…” He giggled, dropping the blade as the new wave of blood gushed down his fingertips. It felt sickening, so sickening he wanted more. “She was right…”

He went to wipe the fresh tears away, hand freezing as the sound of a heavy object thumped to the ground behind him. As fast as he could muster, Elliot whipped around to check whatever had fallen. The world spun, tilted as the lack of blood and the alcohol in his system feined to kill him.

Instead, he was presented with an opening he failed to notice before. Similar to the entrance the forest split to reveal a beach. The stones lined perfectly to guide him to the sound of the crashing waves. As he stepped closer, he bent down to remove his shoes, not wishing to get sand in them even if this was his last day. Yet as he did so, he spotted a perfectly red apple.

The fruit stared at him, bright and juicy for the taking. As he reached for the apple, he attempted to sit his suicide note down, though something nagged at him to keep it in his hands. So Elliot did, the Apple in his right hand and bloody note in the left.

Crashing waves and salty air called for Elliot, pulled him closer. So he gave in, stumbling down the rocky cliff till his toes hit the sand.

“Warm…” He muttered as he bit into the apple, its juices spilling down his wrists and his face.

As he chewed, every bite slowly reminded him of how dizzy he felt, of how nauseous he truly was. He could not finish the apple, could not consume the last bite of its sweetness for it made him sick.

Tossing the apple to the ground made no sound, it confused the delusional man. Why was everything so silent, was this what dying felt like? To hear nothing as the world around you continued?

Elliot swallowed the excess spit in his mouth as he began to walk closer to where the water met the shore. The cool salt water lapped at his feet as he fell to his knees, body weak as he leaned forward.

The letter he had written now crumbled in his hand, the words illegible due to the mix of blood and water. The sight hurt, stung deep into Elliot’s soul. All his hard work and effort washed away by his own mistakes. It felt as though he deserved this, deserved to have his hard work taken from him as he had taken from August.

Elliot bit his lip, tried to stop the sobs from spilling from his mouth, yet it flowed similarly to his blood. He screamed, sobbed, and gagged till his body felt numb.

“I’m sorry..! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” He cried out to no one, “I know I’m a failure! I know I’m a mistake! But please! I just wanted to be loved…”

His voice tapered off as he felt the energy and adrenaline leaving his body. His arm still bleed contributing to his loss of consciousness. Briefly, he noticed his surroundings as he closed his eyes.

The water had gone red, his blood mixing with it to stain the once clear liquid crimson. Impossible. Yet nothing startled Elliot more as he closed his eyes to rest than the moon. It stared at him, full and red, bright red as the apple he had eaten.

Chapter Text

Have you ever been in a state of awake yet asleep? Where your body and mind work on their own, leaving you sitting to watch through your own eyes? Have you ever sworn you were awake just for a moment later a voice from beyond echoes in your mind, calling your name… Elliot has.

A soft muse of a voice called for him, nudging his subconscious to wake up. He groaned softly as the voice filled out, becoming louder and more clear.

“Elliot~ Elliot~ It’s time to wake up~” The man’s voice called softly, chuckling as Elliot brought his hands to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

The blonde tried to roll over, tried to silence the voice but the man persisted. He muttered weakly, “Let me sleep...”

The man’s voice cooed at him as though he was a small child. Elliot wanted to be angry, to be mad but the way the man ran his fingers through his hair so tenderly, he couldn’t help but sigh.

Slowly he opened his blurry eyes just to blink away the fog. Elliot was met with a man, tall and attractive. He smiled down at him, soft fangs poking at his plush lips. It sent a shiver down Elliot’s spine, a mix of fear and arousal stirring in his stomach.

“There you are… How was your nap on my beach?” The mysterious man asked, still tenderly touching Elliot.

The blonde paused for a moment, briefly glancing around him before quickly scooting away from the man. “Who-who the hell are you?!”

His heartbeat quickened as he felt his chest, his arms. He was supposed to be dead yet here he sat on a beach of red sand and even redder water. At that moment he noticed the trees had swallowed the opening, leaving it so he could not escape.

Elliot’s breathing quickened as he hugged himself tight, frantically looking around at the many red flowers decorating the beach.

The man before him sighed and stood to his full height, perfectly towering over Elliot. Even in the moment, he understood if he tried to fight back, nothing good would come out of it. He feared the nearly 7-foot-tall man would crush him under his gaze.

“My name… is Svefn but you will forget that name shortly and only refer to me as Sleep.”

Sleep. The name took the breath out of Elliot’s lungs as he scrambled through the beautiful red flowers. A wash of panic flooded him as Sleep stepped closer, closely watching his pathetic attempts to escape.

Elliot whined high in his throat, soft tears pricking in his eyes. “Please... Please I’m sorry I didn’t mean to intrude..!”

His pleas fell on deaf ears as he backed into someone. He blinked and Sleep was gone, now standing idly behind him. The man, creature even, bent down and lifted Elliot as though he weighed nothing to him.

“Don’t fear little one… I invited you here.” Sleep mused while placing Elliot on his feet, “I wish to offer you salvation, partnership, and eternal love.”

“W-what..?” Elliot stared bewildered while Sleep brushed the sand off his shirt, righting the small wrinkles. Once he deemed Elliot’s clothes fit, he grasped his chin, tilting his head upwards to stare into his eyes.

“Elliot my dear, I saved you.” Sleep expressed with deep concern, “I fixed your wounds, I breathed life into you…”

Face twisting in confusion, Elliot forced his chin from the man’s grasp and glanced at his arm. Shock rushed over him, forcing him to quickly look at Sleep in awe. “How did you…”

His question prompted a laugh from Sleep, a deep chuckle that coated Elliot’s nerves in sickly sweet calm. How had Sleep healed him? Healed his gaping wounds to nothing but simple scars? The skin itself wasn’t even raised, acting as though the wound had healed years ago. But Elliot’s mind didn’t allow him to care, forcing him into a deep state of happiness.

The ginger leaned down, nosing gently at Elliot’s nose, forcing him to jerk slightly but stay still. “I am no man, little one… Welcome to my home, Eden.”

“Eden…” Elliot muttered, eyes closing as he basked in the gentle words, “What are you, Sleep..?”

Sleep grasped at Elliot’s hips, pulling him closer to press against one another. Instinctively Elliot brought his hands to Sleep’s chest, bracing himself as he hummed pleased.

“I am a god my darling, a god offering you your greatest desires.” Sleep mused while gently rubbing his thumb into Elliot’s hip, “Offering you love and eternal partnership, do you accept? Wish to become my vessel for my love?”

The offer seemed odd, maybe even strange coming from a man who deemed himself a god. Elliot wanted to speak out, to question him, but the touch was intoxicating. It lured him into trusting Sleep, to believe that he would always be there...

Elliot found his mouth opening to speak on its own, the words “I accept…” spilling from him with a soft needy whine. Sleep’s smile turned seductive, pleased with himself as he leaned down to press a rough kiss against Elliot’s lips. It drew a shocked gasp from the blonde’s lips as he relaxed into the forceful movement.

The god bit, teased, and played with Elliot’s lips, groaning as he opened his mouth to allow Sleep in. Their tongues met, teeth clashing with the aggression that both men shared.

At first the instinctive to dominate the kiss urged Elliot to bite Sleep’s tongue, smiling softly when the god grunted and dug his fingers into his skin. Though Sleep did not allow his vessel to have control, instead he reached for Elliot’s hair, yanking his head backward.

“A-aha!” Elliot moaned, hands grabbing at the thin shirt that barely hung off Sleep’s shoulders.

The god chuckled, twisting the blonde strands between his fingers. He pressed himself against Elliot’s stomach, his girth filling out nicely. “My dear Vessel… May I have you, consume you as mine?”

Elliot’s eyes fluttered shut, a soft sigh leaving his mouth as he nodded. “Please…”

His consent, while coerced from deep within, sounded like music to Sleep’s ears. Allowing the god to gather Elliot into his arms, mouthing at the man’s jaw. Simple whispers and mutters as they walked into the crashing waves.

“What- what’re we doing?” Elliot questioned from his dazed state. He tried to squirm to turn, to look down as he felt the icy water lapping at his legs around Sleep’s hips. But the god did not allow it, forcing him to continue looking at him as he led them to what Elliot assumed was doom.

As the water reached higher and higher to the point of nearly submerging the two, Elliot whined out and clung to Sleep. What a cruel god.

“You worry so much my first,” Sleep laughed, bracing his hand on the back of Elliot’s head to hold him close, “Nothing here will hurt you unless I allow.”

He wanted to believe in his words, to trust the way Sleep lured him in, but a soft nagging feeling in the back of his mind raised concern. Elliot closed his eyes tight as he whined softly, whined to speak freely. Though his tongue felt heavy, the God’s words coated it with sickly sweet praise. Not even the cold water now lapping greedily at his neck would pull the words from his mouth.

With Sleep’s large strikes and the near drop off into the water, before long Elliot gasped for air. His lungs filled heavily with blood-red water, his body panicking to escape Sleep’s tight grasp, but nothing relented.

######

He wasn’t sure of how he managed to get here, in a void of flowers and ribbons. Nor was he sure how the ground felt so comfortable to his aching body. But one thing was for sure, Vessel was getting tired of the constant luring deeper within his mind.

Waking up in different places sore and tender to the touch, cock sensitive to even brush against. He hated it, but he hated it more when he moved to stand. Sharp spikes of pain shock through his lower back and hips causing him to stumble to brace himself on his knees.

Vessel whimpered softly as his head began to throb, the pain bringing on vivid flashbacks he could barely make sense of.

Grunts, moans, and praise. Blooming pain that burst into pleasure. Sleep’s soft voice praising him for being so good, for taking his cock deep in places his body only dreamt about.

There you are, my handsome boy. Your body yearns for me, calls to me. Such a tight hole for your god…

He shuddered as he finally stood straight, memories reminding him how he pleaded for Sleep to stop or keep going. His body aching for him. Vessel felt sick to his stomach as his cock tried to stir again to only cause a painful hiss.

Slowly rubbing at his stomach and hips, Vessel looked around the emptiness, craving for any type of attention but sexual. Soft whispers of the truth filled the world around him, speaking to him to tell him what was happening.

“You’re changing!” One voice whisper screamed, “Alone! Alone! Alone!” Another shouted and he stepped forward.

The flowers under his feet crunched softly, oozing their blood-like color. Vessel shuddered as he felt the liquid seek between his toes. He persisted and continued to venture through the void of nothingness.

“Sleep?!” He called, voice echoing, “Sleep!!”

However, his attempts were in vain as he was only met with silence. The loneliness badgered at his mind, nearly bringing him to tears as he muttered self-soothing words.

“Breathe… breathe… El- Vessel…”

Walking felt tedious, continuing to trudge through the flowers and red strained ribbons. His breathing grew weak and it felt tired. Eyes growing heavy and body sagging. Vessel groaned and he fell to his knees, crashing down as he hugged himself.

“No… no please I don’t want to…”

#####

Vessel inhaled roughly, his chest expanding rapidly as he rose from his spot on the old broken-down couch. The springs squeaked loudly as the male leaned forward grasping at his nude chest. His skin felt hot to the touch, gross and sweaty from his slumber. The tacky feeling drew a groan from his throat, though it sounded more animal than human.

He ignored the dreadful feeling he couldn’t place a finger on in favor of looking around the dusty manor. Never once had he been more thankful to wake up with a roof over his head. The vessel was used to passing out after days of pushing himself, just to wake up in a place he had not remembered. If he was a sane man he would question this, but when had Vessel ever been sane? No… When did Vessel become? It didn’t matter to him anymore, his mind was only set to consume and worship.

The manor’s floorboards creaked as he wondered, the doors screeching as he pushed them open. It seemed that while yes everything held an abandoned feel, it was lived in, a home.

Your family owned it…

His subconscious muttered, leaving a hollow ache in his chest. Vessel shook off the feeling and forced himself to explore the manor to find a bathroom. He felt the sweat rolling down his back, his pants sticking awkwardly to his legs.

Thankfully the bathroom was found, the sweet cool tile under his feet causing him to release a relaxed sigh. Vessel wondered, running a hand through his hair before walking to the sink to look himself over. At his appearance, he felt sick.

The blonde gagged, blood bubbling into his mouth. He leaned over the sink, allowing the warm blood to dribble from his lips. Pure panic rushed through Vessel as he spat the liquid away. He gagged and choked until he finally was free from the grasp of the blood.

Vessel’s blood ran darker than others he had consumed. Deeper than the beautiful crimson he longed to drink. No, his was dark, almost black without light. He never questioned it, nor did he ever question by his body deemed his own blood unfit for survival.

“Fuck… fuck… Consume the blood to worship yet my own is not good enough.” Vessel grumbled, wiping the thick liquid from his chin. He stared at its color, the urge to swallow it down nearly overwhelming. Only did it satisfy when he begrudgingly licked the blood away. He gagged as he swallowed his own blood, his mouth now coated in a sweet taste he could faintly remember.

Forbidden Apple...

Vessel rolled his eyes as the thought pushed through to the front of his mind. There was no time for such stupid thoughts when he needed to shower, to cleanse his body of the cold sweat. All the first could do is hope the water worked, hoped that the other thought, memory, was correct.

He breathed out a sigh of relief when the shower turned on, only cringing slightly when the water turned a musky brown. It made sense to him seeing how the manor sat seemingly completely empty. Though he pondered for a moment, questioning how the utilizes were still on. "Don't question a gift... Thank you, Sleep."

The first shower in ages eased Vessel's aching bones and soothed the pain in his lower back and spine. He savored it and soaked up all the hot water the house had to offer. By the time he was finished, the water was no longer running the color of dried blood.

He sighed, the steam inhaling deep into his lungs as he stepped out of the shower. Sadly Vessel did not have a towel worth using in the old house. Nose turned up as he realized if he wanted to stay he would need to clean the manor top to bottom. Did he want to stay? Something about the familiar place lured him deeper and urged him to stay.

Due to not having any towels, Vessel opted for walking around the manor nude. Besides the slight chill, he did not mind stretching and removing the mask he had adorned. In truth, he based in the glory that was his body.

Cock resting heavily between his legs, the metal bar running through the head of his cock grew cold. Vessel ran a hand down his chest, humming a rift to a song he was writing. He traveled further down the more he explored the house. The prospect of touching himself forced a heavy, almost needy twitch of his cock.

Vessel moaned softly as he trailed his hand through his happy trail. He brushed lower, pushing further down until he gently grasped his soft cock. His own touch caused him to hiss in gentle sensitive pleasure.

"Fuck..." The male muttered as he finally found what seemed to be a bedroom. He pushed his way through the heavy door and stepped into the beautifully decorated master suite. But to him, none of that mattered when he saw how comfortable the bed looked.

Ripping the first layer of bedding off, Vessel quickly laid down and propped himself up. His eyes trailed over his cock resting against his thigh. It flushed red from the hot water and begged to be touched. So he gave in, gathering as much spit as he could in the front of his mouth. Vessel drooled onto his palm, letting it coat his hand as he stared at his cock with intent.

"Sleep..." He groaned out as he placed the palm of his hand on the shaft of his own. Carefully he smeared the drool, stroking himself from root to tip.

With every upstroke, Vessel twisted his wrist around the tip of his cock. The movement caused him to groan lowly, tossing his head back in pleasure. It had been so long since he touched himself that he was able to indulge in slowly grinding into his fist.

Vessel's cock dribbled as he grew harder, fully filling out and throbbing with low-burning need. The mix of his spit and pre-cum made every thrust wet and slippery.

He twitched, hips tensing as his abdomen flexed, "A-ah! Fuck!"

The blond needed more, needed the image of fucking into someone's mouth. Vessel squirmed, mind wondering as he tried to come up with some type of pornographic fantasy. His mind ran blank, unable to picture anything worth wild.

Frustrated, Vessel huffed and spread his legs wider to thrust roughly into closed fist. The soft sqeulsh of his cock echoed through the quiet room. But his sounds of frustration only grew as his cock slowly began to soften, uninterested in just simply using his fist.

"Shit- Stay hard!" Vessel pleaded with his own cock as he tossed an arm over his face, gritting his teeth. He searched deeper in his mind, pleaded with Sleep all while trying to tease his cock back to full mass.

Prayers were sent to his god in hopes that he would accept his offering of pleasure. He hoped that if he begged hard enough, Sleep would bless his mind with some kind of arousing imagine.

Vessel's praying did seem to work after his cock was rarely raw with the constant friction. Soft mumbles of the sweet, sweet voice he had some to love filled his ears, "I will show you the future in exchange..."

The blonde groaned loudly as he was met with a splitting headache and the vivid imagine of a man.

”Vess!” The man moaned underneath him, squirming as his teary blue eyes stared up with Vessel with so much love.

The strangers soft pants peaking louder as he reached down to touch his cock, fisting it as Vessel drove his cock deeper inside of him. Those blue eyes rolled back, flushed red face scrunching as he moaned for the first.

“A-ah! Mmphh!” He moaned, clenching tightly around Vessel’s cock forcing a punched out groan from the top.

Vessel gasped loudly as he was forced back into the present moment, his cock twitching roughly as the pre-cum oozed heavily once more. He bit his lip, grunting as he tried to recall the tight warmth of the stranger’s hole. How the blush traveled lower and lower on the freckled pale skin. “Holy shit-!”

It was grossly perfect, the way Vessel arched his hips into his fists, tightening it to simulate the feeling of the man’s hole clenching around him. He groaned loudly, panting as his toes curled with pleasure. Vessel’s thighs tensing long with his abdomen as he was shocked breathless.

He could almost hear the breathy moans of the strange beauty in his mind. The man the way pleaded for him, begging for what seemed to be release. His cock aching as he just barely touched it in favor of wanting to cum from Vessel’s cock and Vessel’s cock alone.

The orgasm was so intense the blonde’s eyes rolled back. His own moans stuttering out as he painted his fist and belly with thick milky cum. He continued to stroke himself, pushing himself into overstimulation, forcing yet another weak squirt of cum.

Once satisfied for now, Vessel released his tender cock and took a deep breath. “Thank you…”

Chapter Text

Consuming and feasting grew harder and harder for Vessel. Many times it felt like a waste of a human life, but Sleep demanded it. Vessel was not one to question his god, but Elliot was.

From the moment that Vessel laid his head to rest after nearly a week of no sleep, Elliot was awake. He would gasp and cry, scream as he finally had control over his being.

The mind planes were no friendly place, the emptiness always haunted Elliot as did the whispers. For here in the quiet of his mind, Elliot was frozen to watch himself kill for survival.

Elliot sighed softly as he finally felt more alive than before. He lay on his spot on the hard floor, eyes staring up into the endlessly black and reds. He doesn’t sure how long he had stayed quiet, only making a sound when the quiet sobs turned harsh. For there is nothing to do in the mind planes, no time to explain how long you’ve been locked away.

Sadly, it rarely bothered Elliot anymore, instead, he used this time for good. He reflected heavily on his actions, understood the many times his therapist attempted to explain and realized how cruel of a man he was to August.

Elliot wiped away a stray tear, blinking and closing his eyes with a heavy sigh. His arms set crossed against his stomach, resting in the most comfortable position he could. A weight, a presence, placed itself on top of his lap, resting there with a soft delighted hum.

“You seem relaxed my first, how is the endless void treated you?” Sleep laughed softly, taking Elliot’s hand into his.

But the blonde didn’t even dare to open his eyes, simply allowing for Sleep to maneuver his body to his want. There was no point in fighting the god, he tried and sadly learned how unbearable silence can be.

“It’s treating me just fine Sleep. He-I’ve been doing well, haven’t I? No fighting back?” Elliot’s voice, hoarse from how little he uses it.

Sleep hummed softly, bringing Elliot’s pointer finger to his mouth. He placed a gentle kiss, basking in the way Elliot seemed to shudder. “You have been wonderful, but I fear you may be going off track again.”

The confession caught Elliot off guard, forcing him to snap open his eyes to the man sitting in his lap. He shot the god a confused look, worry filling him as he wondered how he had gone wrong.

“You seem to not understand I am a god of many. You seek my attention daily, begging for me to keep you company,” Sleep sighed almost annoyed, “I believe it is time I treat you to a friend, a lover.”

Relief flooded Elliot, he wasn’t going to be alone anymore. But he was quickly hit with dread, he wasn’t going to be alone anymore. Someone else was going to be subjected to the constant torture that came with being Sleep’s vessel.

“Are you sure..? You can’t just—I don’t know—be there for me?” Elliot asked, his voice strained as he held back the fear in his tone.

Sleep chuckled at how amusing he was. The sound, while soothing, had begun to haunt Elliot. The god rolled his hips slowly, pulling a deep groan from the man below him. “I already am, my love. But for when I cannot be, I must get you another pet, yes?”

The way Sleep described another vessel as a pet made Elliot’s blood turn cold. He knew better than to speak against the god, to just smile and nod in acceptance.

“Good boy Vessel, you learn so well…”

・・・・・

Vessel groaned softly, the ache in his body still present as ever. He hated this part, the lapse in memories as though he was asleep. It sped his days along, drug him through time as he struggled to hold on. It felt as though there was very little time he actively knew what he was doing. For him, time was a blur at this point as he did nothing but ache and crave food.

He had tried human food, eating the normal things that made his mouth water. Oh how he died to eat Yorkshire pudding, he savored every bite of the meal he had it with, only to not feel full afterward. It left him confused that dreadful day, tears pricked in his eyes. Vessel hated thinking about the day he sat in the restaurant with tears falling down his flushed face.

That day Vessel learned that no matter how much he ate, he would never feel completely full unless he tasted the irony of blood. At first, he didn’t mind sneaking into bed with someone after a night at the bar, seducing them into giving up just a small amount. It slowly turned into him needing so much more as his body craved more. It sickened him to black out during sex due to the intense hunger. He would wake, mouth coated in a thick layer of blood as his partner sobbed softly.

Unfortunately, as Sleep began to pull away from Vessel, leaving him alone many nights without his sweet company, Vessel began to pull away from the urge to consume. He nitpicked when it came to eating, mostly focusing on doing his best to worship the god back into his life. Even though the vessel knew this would not bring his god back, it would only force his body into starvation. Vessel grew weaker and began to sleep longer. His body did its best to hold up against whatever Sleep was doing to him.

So the first sat up with a groan, his body screamed for him to lay back down into the warm blankets. But he knew he needed to stand, to attempt to hunt a small animal to at least survive a little bit longer. All in the name of Sleep, he needed to continue… unless his god abandoned him.

The floorboards creaked softly as he stepped on a panel, and the old manor groaned as Vessel stumbled through the halls. He braced himself on the walls, leaning against them heavily as he panted weakly. He whimpered, closing his eyes tightly to force himself to prevent the world from spinning even further. But every footfall shot pain through his spine, lighting him a blaze with the numb tingle.

“Aha…” Vessel groaned out as he finally made his way to the foyer. His head pulsed with the slow-growing headache, mouth began to fill with drool as his body understood why he was leaving.

He swallowed back the spit to reach for his shoes and put them on carefully, he took deep breaths with every single movement. Vessel felt so pathetic, so useless for not being able to even slip his shoes on without much struggle, but he pushed through it to reach for his jacket and mask. While he deemed the mask unneeded, Sleep ordered him to source one with a strange symbol. The god declared it was for his own good, to protect Vessel’s identity, and to spread his words. Vessel knew better than to question the god so now, he dawned the mask every time he knew he was actively hunting.

It took him much longer than he would care to attempt to find any type of animal. Every time he would get close, he would wheeze out in pain, alerting the animal to his presence. “Fuck!”

Vessel panicked and struggled as he pushed himself further with the little energy he had. Soon he realized the sun had fallen, the moon almost laughing at his pathetic attempt to survive. Due to the darkness, Vessel was unable to hunt, unable to fully notice he had wandered behind a bar in a rural little town.

But it didn’t seem to matter as his legs collapsed underneath him, sending him to the ground with a loud curse. Vessel whimpered and whined as he realized he had failed his god. “Worthless… Can’t even fed…”

He tried to stand, to roll off of his stomach so he could breath properly, but he had exerted all of his energy. It was painfully obvious that Vessel was going to starve to death due to his own inability to want without another.

There was no point in keeping his eyes open, so he closed them as he basked in the soft noise of the bar. Slowly exhaling, Vessel relaxed and sent a silent prayer to Sleep, thanking him for everything he had done. Vessel found peace in the soft footsteps approaching him, his hazy tired mind blessing him with the thought of Sleep taking him away. But the voice was not his god, was not the man he longed for.

“Holy shit-!” The man gasped out as he approached Ve’s unmoving body. He fell to his knees, quickly grasping at Vessel to roll him over.

Through spotty vision, Vessel took in the man's appearance. His soft, fluffy hair gleamed in the moonlight, and his plush lips were bitten with fear. Ve couldn’t help but smile, thankful for such a beautiful view as he took his last breath.

The slow exhale from Vessel scared the man, panicking him into grabbing his phone to call for help. He thumbed open his device, the screen lighting up as he shakily typed in his passcode. All remanence of alcohol left his system, now being replaced with the gross sticky feeling of fear and panic.

“Hey- hey, no breath-“ He panicked as he dialed for help, “The hell…”

56%…45%…20%…0%. His phone rapidly died, the battery drained seemingly as fast as Vessel’s life force. The short male cursed loudly as he watched Vessel fade even further. “No no man you’ve got to wake up-! You probably have a family!” He shouted while fisting his hands together, pressing them to Ve’s chest to begin CPR.

It was of little use as he could not apply the proper pressure needed. Small tears ran down his flushed cheeks, his own heartbeat pounding as he felt the heat slowly leaving Vessel. He closed his eyes tightly at the unsightly truth he had failed yet another person.

“You’ve done well…” A disembodied voice gasped out behind Vessel’s mask. The tone and sudden words caused the man to flinch roughly, jerking back and away from Vessel’s body. “You saved him Silas~”

The man, Silas, froze as his name was uttered from the mouth of a dead man. He tried to crawl backward and away from Vessel’s body. In his panic, Silas looked around them for an escape. “Look man I-I don’t know what you want!” Yet the voice only laughed as it pulled Vessel’s body into an upright position.

Silas eyed him with fear, whimpering as they both fell quiet. Not even the crickets echoed through the wooded area, just an eerie silence.

Slowly “Vessel” rolled to his knees, crawling towards Silas on all fours. His back popped, a small groan leaving his mouth as he backed Silas against a tree. The man whimpered and looked away, fear decorating every feature. Yet “Vessel” reached to cup Silas’s face, thumbing away the tears with a soft gravelly coo.

“Shh… You did nothing wrong- You are lost and alone aren’t you Silas?” Vessel’s voice softened as he caressed the other, “You want to be yourself… To be loved for that... I can give it to you..”

Silas bit his lip as Vessel’s thumb brushed closer to his eye, a small keen leaving his mouth. He flushed red as he was pulled to face Vessel. “No more drinking your pains away my dear. I can help you forget everything she did to you…” A soft gasp left Silas as he opened his eyes, staring into the mask.

“How did you…” Silas muttered out, scooting closer to the tree. He hissed, the bark digging into his back unpleasantly. “What do you mean you can give it to me?”

The challenge in Silas’s tone pleased “Vessel” causing him to groan happily. “My sweet sweet boy… I can do anything you please if you offer yourself to me…” Silas’s nose scrunched, accenting his freckles, the tone of Vessel’s voice, and the groan forcing a bitter taste in his mouth.

The other noticed and slid his hand to Silas’s thigh, gently kneading at the muscle as he hummed. While gravely and layered, the hum almost eased the brunette's nerves. “How would I offer myself to you…”

A wave of excitement rushed over Vessel as he smiled to reveal some bits of fangs digging into his lip. The kneading grew deeper, slowly bruising Silas’s muscles, dragging a small whimper to fall from his mouth. They stare into one another’s eyes, basking in the eerie silence that blanketed them.

“Become my second and accept me into you, kiss me.”

Silas swallowed roughly as he debated his choice. Did he really want to stay in this miserable life? To constantly run himself into the ground with no hope of a future. He thought back to the ways he had been mistreated, the way his family turned their noses at him. He shuddered as his mother’s voice echoed throughout his soul. “You’ll never be ‘Silas!’ You’ll always be-“

The smaller didn’t allow his thoughts to travel any further, instead, he steeled himself and pressed his lips against Vessel’s dry ones. His brows knitted together in confusion as the other’s lips tasted sweet, and sugary with a hint of spice. Silas shuddered roughly as his eyes fell shut, body completely relaxing without hesitation.

Warmth filled him as Vessel pressed deeper into the kiss, their lips slowly moving in sync. The sweet taste overwhelmed his senses as he began to seek more. Silas whined as he subconsciously reached for Vessel’s cloak, fingers gripping it tightly as his mind began to numb.

He squirmed against the tree, whining softly as he tried to take more from Vessel. Yet the other only allowed their tongues to press against one another, spit mixing in a mess of bittersweet chemistry. Silas wanted to pull away, to catch his breath as panic began to pour into his subconscious, yet his body ached as did his T-dick. It hurt with arousal as he needed more but the pain slowly faded as he began to lose consciousness.

A voice filled his head, soft and gentle, yet Vessel’s mouth never pulled away from his. “What a good boy II…”