Chapter Text
It goes like this:
Blood drips from your fingertips in the silent pizzaplex, the droplets the only sound in the cavernous hall. Moon stands over you, hands wrapped around one of yours, his expression weary but resigned. Fear pulses in your veins with every beat of your heart, and he can feel it in the tremors that shiver through your frame. He made his choice the moment he heard you running, the second he saw the tears tracking down your face, the instant he felt his heart go cold at the thought of losing you.
Your coworker wheels around the corner, weapon in hand, eyes darting as they sought you out.
Turning halfway, you pin them with a look as Moon straightens slowly beside you. Red eyes shimmer with a hint of purple as he gazes over your head at the other security guard. Smothering the doubt, Moon lowers your hand, stepping around you and taking measured steps forward.
There wouldn’t be time for the guard to know what was happening before it was all over. Moon wouldn’t want to prolong their suffering, not for his first time.
His first kill.
All to protect you.
Those claws that parted flesh return to you, tender as a lamb’s nuzzle, cradling your bloodied hands in their own. It’s his turn to tremble, and your turn to hold him. Bringing his hands up to your mouth, you press your lips to his knuckles, gazing up at him through your lashes.
He stares down at you, and you knew it would take time for the fear to leave his eyes. But it would.
“Thank you,” you murmur, pressing your cheek to his palm.
He can’t tear his gaze from the blood on your mouth.