Chapter 1: Opening Image
The sun rose on a brand new day. Merak laid in the trio's shared apartment, Ankoku - his boyfriend - holding the man in his arms as Merak's closet friend, Ombre, laid in the furthest side behind the two, hugging a soft pillow.
It was still morning, the sun seeping its golden beams through the frosted windows and across the dim room. The hum of the city echoed faintly outside, making the soft silence within the apartment even more pronounced.
"I say, guys, I think it's about time we took this next step," began Merak, breaking the silence.
Ankoku, adorned with his usual red turtleneck, responded with a leisurely yawn.
"What's that, Merak?" He drew circles around Merak's spine before shifting to lay on his chest.
Merak's eyes twinkled as he turned to face Ankoku. "Well, I think it's high time we moved in together!"
Ombre's ears perked up at this, his wings fluttering gently. "You mean, like, in this apartment?"
"Yes! It'd be a perfect way for us three to finally live under one roof!" Merak responded, elated at his idea.
"But why, brav?" Ombre asked, sitting up, "I can pay for myself. Ankoku already lives with you, you don't need another person to care for under your roof." He nervously tugged at his sleeves, his wings involuntarily flapping as if to puncture the air.
Merak shook his head, his two goat-like horns poking out from his head. "No, Ombre, that's not what I'm talking about. Living with someone else is always better - we can split bills, share responsibilities, and whatnot." Merak winked.
"Maybe Merak just wants to "hang out", if you get my gist." Ankoku chuckled, leaving soft kisses on Merak's nape, "Naughty boy." Ombre sighed, his star pupils narrowing, "I don't know, I just think living together might be too much trouble."
Merak sat upright, resting his hands on Ankoku's chest and looked earnestly at Ombre. "Hear me out, Ombre. With you, our Luna moth whisperer, we can save loads of money by regrowing-" he whispered the last word mischievously.
"Yeah, but isn't your landlord mad enough that you have Ankoku?" Ombre said, nuzzling against the soft sheets, "He might get mad if I stay here too..."
"Omby, if we pay our bills, the landlord ain't gonna give a crap," Ankoku said, bopping Ombre's nose, "Don't worry, cutie pie."
"Ankoku. Behave." Merak grumbled cutely, trying to stop Ankoku from flirting. "Anyways, I'll care for you both, using Ankoku's money from... erm... doing stuff."
"Besides, Imma rich man, 's why Merak dates me," Ankoku smirked, before standing up, "Don't worry, cutie, we got your back." Merak raised an eyebrow at Ankoku. "I'm not dating you for your money. You're just too charming to resist," Merak teased, winking one of his purple eyes.
Ombre giggled, his wings pulsating gently. "Then I guess it's settled. The three of us will live together in this apartment," he said, finishing the conversation.
Merak and Ankoku glanced at each other - a shared happiness reflected in their eyes. They couldn't wait to live together, to share their life, and the bills.
After a couple of days, however, Ombre grew... distant. Like he was dealing with something... grave. Something like...
depression.
Merak noticed it first, the subtle changes in Ombre's usually vibrant demeanor. His wings seemed to droop more, his laughter had grown scarce, and he spent most of his time in his room, the door slightly ajar, the yellow and green checkered shirt he wore hanging loosely on his frame.
One evening, after a long day at work, Merak found himself alone in the apartment. Ankoku was out, running errands, and Ombre was holed up in the bathroom. Merak decided he'd had enough of this silent treatment.
He knocked on the bathroom door, the sound echoing in the quiet apartment. "Ombre? You okay in there?" he called out, his voice laced with concern.
There was a pause before Ombre's soft voice responded, "Yeah, Merak. I'm fine."
Merak didn't buy it. He could hear the strain in Ombre's voice. "Can I come in?" he asked, his hand already on the doorknob.
Another paused, then a reply, "No." Merak was taken aback, but he wasn't ready to give up.
"Okay, how about this? I make us some tea, and we talk. From the other side of the door, if that makes you feel better." Merak suggested, leaning against the wall opposite the bathroom door.
A longer pause this time, then a soft, "Alright."
Merak retreated to the kitchenette, the sound of boiling water filling the silence. He prepared two cups of chamomile tea, the aroma filling the room, a soothing balm to the tension.
He placed one cup on the floor outside the bathroom door, a gentle knock announcing its arrival.
But the door didn't budge... Like Ombre was busy doing something else...
Merak waited, his back sliding down the wall until he was sitting on the cool tile floor. He leaned against the wall, taking a sip of his tea, and waited. And waited some more. Just as he was about to give up and knock again, he heard a soft rustle from inside the bathroom. Then, a soft thud. Then, silence. Merak's heart pounded in his chest. You okay?" he called out, his voice barely above a whisper. No response. Merak put his tea down and stood up, his hand reaching for the doorknob.
"Ombre, please, answer me." His voice was firm yet gentle, filled with worry. He couldn't stand the thought of his best friend hurting, especially when he was right outside the door. He turned the knob, but it was locked. "Ombre, unlock the door. Please." He waited, his heart pounding in his chest, hoping for a response.
He turned the knob again. Oh, it wasn't locked.
It just... wouldn't budge. Merak jiggled the handle, panic rising in his chest. "Ombre!" he called out, louder this time, his voice echoing in the small bathroom. Still no response. Merak's heart was pounding now, his breath coming in short gasps. He stepped back, his eyes scanning the door, looking for any signs of forced entry. Nothing. The door was intact, but it refused to open.
Merak's mind raced. What if Ombre had hurt himself? What if he was lying on the other side of the door, injured or worse?
He heard a knife... and a gun clattering on the floor.
The sound chilled Merak to his core. He couldn't stand the thought of his best friend harming himself. He had to act fast.
He stepped back, his eyes scanning the room for anything that could help him break down the door. His gaze landed on Ankoku's weightlifting bench and barbell set in the corner of the room. It was heavy, but it was his only option.
With a grunt, he dragged the bench over to the door, the metal legs screeching against the tile floor.
He positioned it under the doorknob, the barbell across the top, creating a makeshift battering ram. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.
"Ombre, I'm coming in!" he shouted, hoping his friend would respond, give him any sign that he was okay. But only silence greeted him. With a determined nod, he braced himself against the bench and pushed with all his might.
The door groaned under the pressure, the wood creaking as it slowly gave way.
Merak pushed harder, his muscles straining, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel the sweat beading on his forehead, trickling down his spine. But he didn't stop. He couldn't.
Finally, with a loud crack, the door flew open, the force of it sending Merak stumbling into the bathroom. He looked up, his eyes scanning the room, his heart pounding in his chest. And there, in the corner, sat Ombre, his knees drawn up to his chest, his head buried in his arms.
The bathroom was so messy. Blood on the floor, pill bottles everywhere, and a gun on the floor.
Merak's breath hitched as he took in the scene, his eyes widening in shock. "Ombre," he whispered, his voice barely audible, "What did you do?"
Ombre lifted his head, his star pupils meeting Merak's worried gaze. "I'm sorry, Merak," he said, his voice hoarse, "I didn't mean to... I just... I couldn't take it anymore." He gestured to the mess around him, his wings drooping even more.
Merak's heart ached at the sight of his friend, so broken and defeated.
He wanted to rush to Ombre's side, to comfort him, but he was rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on the gun lying on the floor.
"Ombre, what were you thinking?" Merak managed to choke out, his voice barely above a whisper, "You could've... you could've hurt yourself."
Ombre let out a bitter laugh, his shoulders shaking. "That was the point, Merak. I just wanted it all to stop. The pain, the loneliness, the constant fear... I just wanted it to end."
"And you know..." Ombre pulled out a knife and showed the wounds on his wrists, "I think you're too late for that last part." The cuts were deep, blood oozing out, staining his sleeves. Merak's heart leapt into his throat, his eyes widening in horror.
"Ombre, no!" Merak cried out, rushing to his friend's side. He grabbed a towel from the rack, pressing it firmly against the wounds to stem the flow of blood. "Why would you do this, Ombre? Why?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion.
Ombre looked at Merak, his eyes filled with tears. "I'm tired, Merak. I'm tired of being different, of being scared all the time. I hate being a hybrid! I-i... I just..."
Then Ankoku came home, humming a cheerful toon, "Guys, I'm back! I got some food and-" He paused as he made his way through the hallway, Merak holding a crying Ombre on the toilet seat with blood all over the floor, "... stuff." Ankoku's eyes widened, his voice trailing off as he took in the scene. Merak looked up at Ankoku, his eyes filled with unshed tears, his hands stained with Ombre's blood. "Ankoku, we need to get him to a hospital. Now." Merak's voice was steady, despite the turmoil inside him. Ankoku didn't need to be told twice. He rushed to Ombre's side, scooping the injured hybrid into his strong arms. "It's okay, cutie, we got you," he murmured, his voice gentle yet firm.
He turned to Merak, "Grab a towel, we need to stop the bleeding." Merak nodded, grabbing a clean towel from the rack and pressing it against Ombre's wrists.
Ombre winced, his teeth gritted against the pain. "I'm sorry, guys," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to worry you."
Merak shook his head, his eyes filled with unshed tears. "Don't apologize, Ombre."
"S-shoot..." Ankoku groaned, seeing even more wounds on Ombre's legs, "We need more towels!" he barked, urgency coloring his voice. Merak sprang into action, grabbing every clean towel he could find and passing them to Ankoku, who pressed them firmly against Ombre's cuts.
Ombre was pale, his breaths shallow and ragged. His star pupils were dilated, his wings barely fluttering. Merak's heart ached at the sight of his friend, so helpless and vulnerable. He wanted to say something, anything, to make this better, but words failed him.
Ankoku, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of action.
He carefully laid Ombre down on the bedroom floor, making sure his head was elevated to prevent him from choking on his own blood. He then dashed to the kitchen, returning with a bowl of warm water and some clean cloths.
"We need to clean these wounds before we can stitch them up," he said, his voice calm and collected, despite the chaos around them. Merak watched in awe as Ankoku worked, his strong hands gentle as he cleaned Ombre's wounds, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Ombre winced with each touch, his breath hitching in pain.
Merak felt helpless, his hands trembling as he held onto Ombre's uninjured hand, offering what little comfort he could. Ankoku, on the other hand, was a picture of calm efficiency, his movements precise and steady.
"Merak, grab that first aid kit under the sink," Ankoku instructed, not looking up from his task. Merak nodded, his eyes lingering on Ombre's pale face before he hurried to the kitchenette. He returned with the kit, placing it beside Ankoku.
Ankoku opened it, pulling out a packet of gauze and some medical tape.
He turned to Merak, "I need you to hold these gauze pads firmly against the wounds while I get the sutures ready." Merak nodded, his hands steady now, determined to help in any way he could. He pressed the gauze pads against Ombre's wrists and legs, applying even pressure.
Ankoku rummaged through the kit, pulling out a small packet of sutures and a pair of tweezers. He tore open the packet, his eyes scanning Ombre's wounds. "These cuts are deep, Merak.
I'm going to need to stitch him up," Ankoku said, his voice steady yet filled with concern. Merak nodded, his eyes fixed on Ombre's pale face. "Do what you have to, Ankoku. Just... just save him." Ankoku gave Merak a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before turning his attention back to Ombre. He picked up the tweezers, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he began to clean the wounds, removing any debris or foreign particles. Ombre winced, his body tensing with each touch.
"S-s-stitches!?" Ombre exclaimed, moving away from the two, only to be dragged back, "No! N-no! Get away from me!" Ombre tried to squirm away, but Ankoku held him firmly in place, his grip surprisingly gentle yet unyielding. "I'm sorry, cutie, but this is necessary," Ankoku said, his voice firm yet filled with compassion. "We can't leave these wounds unstitched, Ombre. You'll bleed out before you can regenerate." Ombre's eyes widened in fear, his wings fluttering nervously. "B-but it's going to hurt!" he cried out, his voice trembling. Merak squeezed Ombre's uninjured hand, offering him a reassuring smile.
"I know it's going to hurt, Ombre, but Ankoku will be as gentle as possible. We need to do this to keep you safe, okay?" Ombre bit his lip, his eyes welling up with tears. He nodded, his wings drooping even more.
Ankoku, already prepared with the sutures, looked at Merak. "Hold him down, Merak. I don't want him moving around while I'm stitching him up." Merak nodded, positioning himself on top of Ombre, straddling his hips to keep him still.
Ombre gasped in fear, "No! Let me go! Please!" Ombre cried out, trying to buck Merak off, but Merak held firm, his eyes filled with determination. "I'm sorry, Ombre, but we have to do this," he said, his voice steady yet filled with regret. Ankoku leaned in, his eyes focused on the task at hand. He took a deep breath, his hand steady as he began to stitch up Ombre's wounds. Ombre let out a cry of pain, his body tensing beneath Merak. Merak gritted his teeth, holding Ombre down despite the guilt gnawing at him.
Ankoku worked swiftly, his hands steady as he stitched up the deep cuts on Ombre's wrists and legs. Ombre's cries of pain echoed through the apartment, each one tearing at Merak's heart.
Ankoku didn't look up from his task, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Almost done, cutie. Just a little longer," he murmured, his voice barely audible over Ombre's cries. He could see the pain in his friend's eyes, the tears streaming down his cheeks.
It tore at his heart, but he knew they had to do this. For Ombre's sake.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ankoku tied off the last suture, his shoulders slumping in relief. "Done," he breathed, his voice hoarse from the tension. Merak let out a sigh of relief, releasing his hold on Ombre. He gently wiped the tears from Ombre's cheeks, offering him a small smile. "You did so well, Ombre. I'm so proud of you."
Ombre let out a shaky laugh, his wings fluttering weakly. "I-I did?
I felt like I was going to die," Ombre said, his voice barely above a whisper, his body still trembling from the ordeal. Merak nodded, his eyes filled with unshed tears. "You did, Ombre. You were so brave." Ankoku looked up from his task of cleaning up the medical supplies, his eyes softening as he looked at Ombre. "Yeah, cutie. You were a champ. Ombre managed a small smile, his eyes fluttering closed as exhaustion took over.
Merak sighed, before taking the gun from the bathroom and hiding it, "We need to watch you from now on. So, tonight, you're sleeping with me an' Ankoku." Merak stated, helping Ombre onto the bed, his tone brooking no argument.
Ombre looked up at Merak, his eyes wide with surprise. "W-what? he stammered, his wings fluttering nervously.
Merak gave him a stern look, his purple eyes filled with determination. "Because, Ombre, we can't have you hurting yourself again. I won't let you out of my sight until I'm sure you're okay," he said, his voice firm yet filled with concern. "But...