Chapter Text
Century clinked his glass in a small restaurant with his fingers, staring at me as I ate. He hadn’t ordered anything, but water.
“What exactly can you do?” I asked between mouthfuls of food.
“i’m doing it, love.” He chuckled. I looked around, but nothing seemed to be happening and he frowned.
“i suppose your frequency is so close at a weaker level, you’re immune. perhaps for the best. some are immune.” He shrugged.
“What do you mean?” I asked, swallowing another mouthful of food.
“watch.” He said pointing up. He tapped on a waitresses arm. “miss, can we have a check?” he asked, in a bored voice.
“Oh!” she immediately flushed red. “Right away, sir!” She dashed off to get it, even though she was serving customers at the same time.
“Do you come here often?” I asked.
“no. first time. how was the food?” he asked, noticing I was almost done.
“It was great!” I exclaimed and he laughed softly.
The waitress stopped at our table and looked confused when she set down the check.
“now, miss, why did you do that? we could’ve waited.” Century frowned.
“I-I’m sorry!” she exclaimed.
“don’t tell me, tell your customers.” He said, lightly, concerned. He turned back to me when she had left. “now you see. since my existence, i have almost always gotten my way. i don’t know how or why, but it wasn’t until recent times, i’ve learned ‘how to turn it off,’ so to speak. it affects others in certain ways, monsters and humans alike.”
“Maybe you have to ask?” I questioned.
“alright. patience, may i kiss you outside?” he asked.
My stomach fluttered at the thought, but he said… I still wasn’t sure…
“No. Not yet.” I told him.
“a shame. i honestly wanted to.” he said sadly.
Century had split me from my original soul along with two others, only hours ago. I remembered my old life and the universes I had been through and honestly knew everything was taken care of to help everyone needing it, so I agreed to be taken along with Century. I believed in myself, but here, I had to figure out what he wanted and needed and separate them. I also needed to figure out myself. I was part of a human soul, my body made of magic and hadn’t tested what I retained. That wasn’t to say I wasn’t a whole person… but if anyone found out I was made of magic as opposed to biological matter, they would question me being human or I’d end up as a lab experiment. Century wouldn’t let that happen, would he? He already seemed attached to me, but at the same time unattached to his surroundings.
“penny for your thoughts?” he asked as we walked back to his apartment.
“Oh, uh, I was just wondering if you did all this for me. Like the apartment and dinner. You knew you were going to have a companion.” I said.
“in retrospect, it is practical. you would prefer a bed to the ground most nights, would you not?” He was confused by me asking.
“I was asking if you had that apartment for long. If you got it just recently, y’know?” I changed the question.
“ah. i see. i have had this apartment for a few months. i recently started working nearby. i’ve just been… occupied.”
“So that’s why it’s messy?” I laughed, teasing him and causing his smirk to falter.
“if that is what you call a mess, i suppose.” He commented, pulling out a sucker from his jacket and offering me one. “i did however break a habit i know you don’t like, for you.”
“Thank you.”
It was eerily quiet out, and only the occasional streetlight lit our way. I was somewhat nervous. Century told me not to use my magic on purpose outside his apartment unless it was an emergency and even then, he didn’t want me to test out my skills for several days. He just wanted me to relax and get used to his presence and my surroundings. Century was currently starting to twiddle his lollipop stick with his long fingers, other hand in his pocket as he focused on ahead, but glancing at me now and again, looking thoughtful.
“Hey!”
Three dark shapes surrounded us and a gleam of metal caught our attention.
“What’s a monster doing out this late at night with one of our girls?”
Century sighed.
“i’ll have you know that she is here by her consent. she is not ‘one of your girls,’ she is my human if she so chooses and is under my protection. do not force me to defend ourselves.” His eye flashed.
I scooted closer, gripping his jacket out of fear. Don’t use magic, I told myself over and over. He can handle it.
“Hey, man, I think he’s telling the truth, looket her.” one of them pointed out. He was laying on the charm and it seemed to be working on at least one of the three.
“I know his type. Steal our girls, make weird monster babies and shit and exploit them. Come here, girlie, don’t you want to be saved from the monster? We’ll take real good care of you, unlike that guy.”
“Really? It doesn’t sound like it.” I retorted. “He is a gentlemen unlike you. I just want to go home after our date and sleep!” I blinked. Did I just say what I think I said? Date?
“See what I mean? Brainwashed.” He said to his pals, making a coo-coo sign with his armed hand.
Century sighed again.
“perhaps you could use your integrity for better uses. allow us to leave and no harm will come to you.” What was he waiting for? He stood ready, but didn’t attack. The men stood at attention, but hesitated in attacking us as well.
“If you’re going to fight us, fight us!” I yelled at them, letting go of his jacket.
After a few more tense moments, one of them lunged at me, but Century caught his arm.
“if any of you touch her… Would you agree to a bad time?” We all felt the power behind that threatening voice as the guy jerked his arm out of his grip.
Past experience with skeleton monsters told me Century allowed him to. He smirked. Not a good sign to them as his yellow magic burst forward, knocking them off their feet. He allowed them to get up.
“run away. this is not a battle any of you can win. you are all weak. i suspect you have killed monsters before, and you will die if you do not stop.” Century warned them.
“You can’t kill us. It’s against the law, monster. They know when a human is killed by a monster.”
“as is killing me. say hello to the cameras placed around here in suspicion of monster deaths.” he spat.
They looked around, preoccupied for a moment looking for the cameras he said were in the area and he took that time to slug the leader square in the face. He crumpled to the sidewalk. Century cracked his knuckles loudly.
“now would either of you like to end up like him?”
“Century?” I tugged on his jacket.
His eye was glowing crazily and was hard to look at.
“get out of here.” he simply stated to the other two.
They hesitated, looking at their fallen comrade.
“no. go ahead. pick him up if you wish. you’re lucky i was reminded to give mercy before it was too late.” he flicked his sucker stick away, and started walking now that we weren’t surrounded anymore.
I followed him, grabbing his arm and slipping my hand in his.
“thank you.” he murmured.
“They attacked us. You had every right.” I told him.
“that is not what i regret. i regret you seeing that, in the middle of it all.” He placed his other hand on his forehead.
“Isn’t that what I’m here for?” I asked softly.
“yes, but i hadn’t thought you would need to help me so soon. i wanted you to settle down before anything happened, but it’s too late for that.” he sighed. “i am truly sorry.”
“Century?” he turned his lowered head to me, just as I hoped he would.
I went on my tippy toes and surprised him with a kiss on the cheek and his face dusted a light yellow.
“Do you know how hard it was for me to not attempt to use magic? Those guys were being jerks and who knows what they would’ve done to me. You knew they were up to no good, why didn’t you use magic in the first place?” I asked.
“because. if there are cameras up, and you need to be careful about that, here the rules that apply to monsters defending themselves with magic is that a human must attack them first. the same goes for the other way around. a monster killing is justified by the monster attacking first, but if either party doesn’t stop when mercy is shown, that is where the defender can get in trouble.” He explained.
“But your time magic?”
“i’m afraid that drains me quickly. i also used a lot of energy putting you in different timelines and ourselves here. i haven’t used magic until i knocked those men down. my charisma is not tied to my magic, but directly to my soul. everyone possesses natural waves of emotion that stem from your soul. mine seems to be alluring to many, as you’ve seen.” He frowned again.
“So that’s why you opted to punch that guy.” I stated.
“yes. that and i didn’t like the look he gave you. it was unsettling. let’s put this behind us.” He rubbed his cheek where I had kissed him, smiling again as we finally made it back to his building.
“So, where am I sleeping?” I asked.
“you may take the bed for the present. hopefully, i will not have to use the couch for long.” He glanced at me questioningly and I scoffed.
“Couch city.” I confirmed to him.
“what’s wrong? i won’t give you a bed time.”
I snorted. His puns were even worse than Sans’s… maybe he really was him or at least a good part of him was. He took the opportunity to brush some hair out of my face.
“Goodnight, Century.” I said quickly.
“goodnight, patience.”
I caught him smiling before I rushed to the safety of the bedroom. Sighing as I sank down in the bed, I let my mind wander. Hopefully no nightmares tonight. I didn’t want him rushing in at my screeches.
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“…patience…”
I tossed, not fully aware of my surroundings. I squeezed myself in a ball.
“…patience…”
No, not this time! Not again! I can’t- I can’t-
I bolt upright, in a sitting position, sweating and panting heavily.
“patience!”
Oh no. I had knocked a tray of food set up for me already. The glass on it clinked as it was just about to hit the bed and floor and- then it was gone. Rearranged in Century’s arms.
“perhaps i should’ve thought better than that.” he said.
“I’m so sorry! I-I just-” he held up a hand, balancing the tray with one for a moment.
“it’s completely alright. no harm done. would you care to tell me?” he had set the tray down. “it’s only fair after answering all of your questions last night.”
“I guess so. You know I’ve had run in’s with him. He made me feel so helpless and corrupted me. It took forever to get rid of the corruption. It’s complicated, but I still feel that voice inside me, like it’s never died, even though I’m not corrupted anymore. And every once in a while he’ll find his way into my dreams. I’m terrified, but like you saw, willing to resolve that part of me and face my fears. Now if only my dreams were real… it would be much different.” I explained.
Throughout the whole explanation, he had sat down, placed his hand on mine and was rubbing gently with his thumb, looking concerned and interested at the same time.
“i had no doubt you couldn’t make a difference in him. that is why i agreed to send your determination self there. i would tell you not to worry much over it, but there would be no stopping emotions and it sounds insensitive. instead, i want you to focus on what you will want to do here. i don’t intend on holding you hostage. as long as you come back at night to me.” he said gently.
“Are you possessive?” I asked suddenly and he chuckled.
“maybe a little. i would like you to try a relationship with me before you go running off anywhere else. as i said before, i do want to claim you, but it doesn’t work unless you claim me. you know this. the words i use do seem possessive, but it is not meant in an unhealthy way. anything you decide to do, i want you to succeed. as long as you’re safe, i don’t need to know where you are, just that you’re alright.”
Small tap-taps sounded on the window and he turned to watch outside.
“oh, dear. it seems today will be a rainy day. i had planned on taking you out again to explore.” He frowned.
“It’s ok, Century. Why don’t we use today as an excuse for staying in and me getting to know you and this place?” I laughed. His smile returned.
“eat your breakfast or it’s going to get cold.”
My eyes rounded as I looked at the wide array of food stacked high on the tray. Fluffy pancakes with syrup and butter ready, a large plate of eggs, ten strips of bacon and sausage, toast, biscuits and bagels with jams and jellies.
“I can’t eat all of this, besides you didn’t eat last night.” I told him.
“then it’s a good thing i prepared monster food. i can’t stomach human food like you can. i have to make a stomach and the whole process of digesting is rather time consuming.”
I laughed lightly at his pun as he started helping me eat everything.
Day two with Century was not what I expected, but it was relaxing. I had decided the best way to learn about the apartment was to pick up the random things lying around, which wasn’t too bad. It was mostly a few things he hadn’t put away since he used them often. I also insisted cleaning the dishes since he made me breakfast and I almost ruined it. The apartment felt spacious for two people, but it was really laid out to feel that way. Everything was so open, excepting the bedroom and the bathroom, which were not as small as they could have been, but still felt that way.
Today, Century wore a grey turtleneck sweater and left his jacket hanging on a chair. We lounged on the couch while he played with my hair, talking about just about everything we knew about ourselves. It turned out, Century charmed his way into a research lab and he had been comparing biological matter to magic to find the major similarities. The only thing he had to prove was his IQ and ability to handle equipment. After that, it seemed to him most of the humans accepted his work, even if he was a little unconventional.
“…they had to give me a computer with my symbols on it at first because most of them didn’t know how to translate wing dings, but i’ve learned to translate myself and so they can avoid the hassle.” He chuckled.
“I know how to translate.” I smiled.
“then maybe… hmm…”
“What are you planning?” I asked on instinct.
“nothing harmful.” He smirked.