Undead Boyfriend: Nemo 2 (complete)

There is a strange hospital on a craggy cliff, and now you consider it home. Thanks to Asha and Dr. Nemo, you’ve found a small corner of the world that feels comfortable to you. Dare you say, even safe?

With some training and supervision, you start to take on administrative tasks in Dr. Nemo’s clinic. Each day you’re grateful to be able to help Nemo. You remember Asha’s worries that he’s lonely. When you first met him, you were terrified of him. His world and his shadows were different from your own. His radiant green eyes haunted you, and even now, there are times you have no idea what he is looking at, or where. Now, though, you see Nemo in a much kinder light. He’s fearsome, but there’s a heart hidden beneath it. You care for him, and secretly you want him to care for you too.

Visits from Asha are some of your brightest moments. Her presence makes the world feel lighter and the air easier to breathe. She has a way of touching your hair that makes you glow from within, stirring a warmth in your chest you’ve never felt. The gentle touch of her fingers behind your ear, the way she gathers strands between her fingers as she tucks them back, then carresses down the nape of your neck. 

“Much better,” she says. “Now I can see your lovely face.”

It’s hard to not get excited when Asha shows up. Sometimes you fear that your attachment to her will end horribly. You’ve tried so hard for most of your life not to want or need other people. They leave, or push you away - or worst of all, they die. You try to put the notion aside, but it lingers. 

For a few days you haven’t seen or heard from Asha. Often you have the panic-stricken feeling that she won’t return, or that for some reason her absence is your fault. You try to do things to keep your mind off it, but Asha means so much, and it would hurt horribly if anything happened to her.

During slow periods you sit with Nemo, not saying much. He’ll be doing paperwork or reading the news while you’re absorbed in a book. The room is silent, and you feel tension. You know his feelings for Asha, and you fear you’re a poor replacement for her. But he stays with you, sometimes for hours.

“You should get some sleep,” he says gently. “It’s late, and you worked hard today.”

These assurances help, but you’re no Asha. “Is there anything else I can do before I go?”

Nemo looks at you and shakes his head. “You’ve done enough. I’m grateful for that.”

His shadows follow you to your room, and linger at the door until you’re settled in bed. Sometimes, you think they stay even longer and watch you sleep, but that’s just a silly idea.

One evening, as rain starts to pelt the windows, Asha comes walking into the clinic. She looks exhausted and dusty, and her hair is unusually messy. As she enters, she looks up to see you and her gaze softens. She puts on a smile. “Hi there,” she says weakly. 

You’re not sure how to react. You’ve always seen Asha as a powerful ball of light. Right now she appears dimmed. You step close to her without saying a word - you have too many that all want to come out at once, so silence is all you can manage.

Asha wraps her arms around you, pulling you into a gentle embrace. “I missed you,” she sighs. “I’m sorry I’ve not been by.”

You cautiously put your arms around her as well, feeling like she’ll turn to dust in your hands. “Where have you been?” Your voice trembles.

Asha sighs. “It’s a very long story. I’m so tired, and I just needed to see you and Nemo. A hot bath and a long rest will bring me up to speed again. Don’t worry about me.” She steps back, keeping her hand on your side, and taps the tip of your nose. “I can see it in your eyes.”

“It’s been so long...” That tightness in your throat threatens to become tears. You know if you start to cry now, you might never stop. “How could I not worry?”

“It’s my job to worry about you,” she says gently. Then she does that magical little brush of your hair. It’s almost too powerful, and a few tears slip from your eyes. “Have you been taking care of Nemo? Oh, what am I saying? Of course you have.”

“He’s been quiet,” you murmur. “I mean, more quiet than normal.”

“That silly man,” she whispers. Her ears perk up, and she raises her chin.

You turn to see Nemo standing behind you. His eyes look wide, but they narrow as soon as you look. His arms drop to his sides. “Oh good, you’re back. What has kept you?”

Asha smiles. “I can tell you later.” She returns her attention to you, gently rubbing away the few loose tears from your cheek. “Have you been making sure this one is eating well?”

“Of course,” Nemo answers. “But you would know that if...” He stops, glancing aside as if he hears something down the hall. “You look exhausted. Go get some rest.”

“I plan on it.” Asha slips her palm into yours. “Walk with me, please?”

You nod. There are still too many pressing thoughts to be expressed, so you settle for silence. You’re just happy to have Asha here again, and it doesn’t really matter what you say.

You go to the rear of the clinic, where the living quarters are. Asha leads you to a bathroom, where she starts a hot bath and strips away her clothes. You fold them for her, setting them aside as you fetch clean towels for her. As you turn, you see her sink into the water. Her skin looks soft and beautiful, but you notice several fresh scars on her body.

Asha groans as she sinks into the water, lounging with her long legs pulled up towards her chest. “Hot water is amazing.”

You set the towels down for her. “I’ll go get you a robe. I have one that’s clean.”

“The towels are more than enough for me.” She extends her hand out to you. “I’ve missed you.”

A smile breaks though. You take her hand and kneel beside the tub. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine now, thank you.” Asha runs her fingers along your scalp. “There was something worrisome out there, something I had to see to myself.”

You cross your arms on the edge of the tub and set your chin there. “May I ask what’s going on?”

“Nothing for you to fret over,” Asha sighs. “It’s something I’ve had to deal with before, and I’m sure I’ll deal with it often. Nemo knows this, so I’m surprised he was so worried.” She gives you a smile. “I always come back.”

Those words strike your heart like an arrow, both comforting and painful. You just smile, enjoying her company after such a long absence. You sleep well that night, knowing Asha is just around the corner from you. 

Come morning, you wake early to get a head start on the day. You know Nemo is awake - he doesn’t exactly sleep - so you decide to ask him what Asha might like for breakfast.

As you step into the dark hallway, you hear moaning. It takes your breath away for a moment, but you continue forward.

The moans are soft and pleasant, not the pained kind that usually fill the clinic. You step closer to Nemo’s office, but that’s not where the moans are coming from. They echo gently from the room Asha is staying in. The door is slightly ajar, and as you step closer, you see a slice of the bed, the disheveled sheets and blanket. You see long, pale legs and feet, and flashes of dark skin beneath them.

Your heart pounds wildly as Asha comes into view. Her body is bare, and her ears are folded back. She tosses her head, her back arched in ecstasy and her long, soft hair cascading down as she looks at the person beneath her. Nemo’s hands caress up her body, then come to rest on her hips. He’s naked as well, wearing only his ever-present mask. He watches her intensely, breathing hard as Asha moans in pleasure. She straddles him, pawing his chest, his shoulders, his face, his hair. 

Nemo’s shadows surround Asha, making sure there isn’t an inch of her beautiful skin that isn’t touched. She’s smiling, enraptured by their presence, leaning into their touches. She rides Nemo, putting her full weight into thrusting him deep inside her. His long fingers knead the soft flesh of her hips, and his eyes close as his head rolls back. Both of them gasp, lost in sensation.

There is need between them as well as passion. You feel horrible for watching. Sex has never been a desire in your heart, but need has. The way they touch and look at one another transcends the carnal. It’s intimacy, and you can’t peel your eyes away from it. You want to be touched that way, and in this moment, you want to be touched and held by Asha and Nemo only.

You sob faintly at the revelation, then clap your hand over your mouth and quickly make your escape. You don’t want them knowing you were there. You go back to your room, contemplating that glimpse into their private lives. You’d never dreamt of seeing it, even though you always assumed it was there. Now, like that door left ajar, your eyes are open, and it’s so hard to close them. 

You sit on the floor before your bed as the tears begin to fall, in a hot, painful surge that courses through your chest and limbs. It’s so hard to need anyone. You’re so used to losing others, whether by death or abandonment. It’s become easy for you to look at someone and see them like a husk or a corpse. Everyone leaves eventually, so you put them out of reach. 

But Nemo is already dead, yet he still exists in this world. He is a strange creature outside the grasp of time. He will not leave, and he doesn’t want to leave. Asha is too strong for death to grasp; her radiance and her power are not that easy to eliminate. She is defiant, and she will not leave either. 

You can no longer imagine a future without them. You've prided yourself on always knowing and being so sure of your solitude, and now the void of unknowing has suddenly appeared before you, so vast and deep that you want to run from it.

It would be so easy to grab the things from your room and flee from here. You consider it, but then you think how cruel it would be. Asha and Nemo have been so kind to you, and it would be unfair to throw that all in their face. Asha said she missed you, that she wanted to see you. What would happen if you ran from her? Nemo is so quiet when Asha isn’t around. What would become of him if you weren’t around, either?

It should be enough to have a clean bed, warm meals, a place to live. Wanting anything else is dangerous. You continue to cry as you bury that longing again. Before, it was easy to ignore because you didn’t know it existed. Now the idea of them touching you, holding you, treating you like someone beloved steals your breath away. Choking on tears, you force those images away.

You won’t speak of this to Asha and Nemo. It would hurt too much to hear anything from them. You’ll be happier this way, you convince yourself. You’ll be safer. As long as they didn’t hear you, everything will be well. They won’t leave, and you will continue living like before. 

Once you’re able to stop crying, you find Asha in the kitchen. She looks blissful and more beautiful than ever. You’ve rarely seen her with her hair completely down, and the way it flows around her neck and shoulders looks almost forbidden. She’s chopping up fruit while eggs fry in a pan.

“Good morning,” she singsongs. “You slept in today!” She tosses the chopped fruit into a bowl, then wipes her hands. “I’m making breakfast for us.”

“Thank you.” Your voice cracks.

Asha approaches you and places a soft kiss on the top of your head. “I asked Nemo if I could borrow you for the day. I have something special planned.”

Your heart aches, but you're grateful for even this. “Do you have errands to run again?”

“In a sense,” she beams. “My people are holding a special event, and I want to bring you and Nemo with me.”

Your eyes widen. You watch her, and her ear twitches slightly. “You don’t need to do that,” you say. 

“I want to have you there. It would mean the world to me. It would be unfair of me to bring Nemo and not you.” She turns back to the stove and quickly takes the eggs from the pan. “So I wanted to buy you something nice to wear for the event.”

“You’ve already bought me something,” you say, thinking of the outfit she gave you before.

“But I haven’t bought you anything recently.” She gives you a wink. “I was also thinking of taking you to get your hair cut and styled. What do you think?”

You remember her hands caressing down Nemo’s chest, then combing through his hair spilled upon the pillows. Your face burns, and you quickly duck into the fridge to hide it. “I’ll have to think about that. It’s been so long.”

Asha sets a plate on the table for you. “Nemo isn’t good at these sort of gatherings,” she murmurs. “I’ve taken him a few times, but I have so many duties that he gets left by himself. Having you attend will make me feel better. I know he’ll be happy having you with him.” She chuckles. “It sounds so silly, like I’m leaving a sitter with a pet. But knowing he has someone here when I can’t be makes me so happy.”

You want to cry again. “I don’t know if I do that.”

“You already do. He told me.” Asha sits at the table with you. 

You regard her with a strange sense of fear and longing. You don’t want to imagine Nemo’s arms wrapped around you, or your cheek against his chest. 

“He said that even when a room is quiet, as long as you share it, he feels at peace. He says sometimes when he’s worried, he sends his shadows to make sure you fall asleep.” Asha reaches out and brushes back your hair in that special way. “There we are. Now I can see that lovely face.”

A few tears slip down your cheeks, and Asha gently catches them on her knuckles. “I know, he’s frighteningly sentimental,” she teases gently to lighten the mood. “But it’s a relief, knowing he’s able to care for someone like that.”

You sniffle. “A haircut would be nice,” you say to change the conversation. The more you talk about Nemo, the more you want to be held between them. 

“You sure?” Asha asks. “It doesn’t have to be much. Just enough to make it feel less heavy, you know?” She runs her fingers through your hair. “You do have such pretty hair.”

“Yours is way prettier,” you chuckle.

“It’s just different.” Asha beams, then motions to your food. “Eat up.”

After you’ve cleared away breakfast, Asha takes you out again. You get a haircut first, taking off the overly-long bangs and the dead ends and adding some layers and definition. As you leave the salon, Asha runs her fingers through your hair. “It feels so soft!” she sighs. “Get ready to deal with me, because I’m going to want to play with your hair all the time.”

Your heart leaps, almost like a hiccup. “Not much was done.”

“It feels so luxurious! Amazing what getting rid of the split ends can do.” She gives you a bright smile, then takes you to find a dress.

You try on several dresses, some that Asha picks out, a couple you do. You’ve never worn anything so fancy. Some of them feel heavy and hard to move in, and it seems like a shame for you to wear one. Then Asha presents a dress made of layers and layers of light, sheer fabric that flows like water down your figure. The faded, dusky color of the dress makes your skin look soft and creamy, and the cut shows off features of your figure you never knew existed.

“Look how lovely!” Asha exclaims. Her eyes are alight as she looks at you, fluffing the dress with her palms before she places her hands on your shoulders. “You’re like a princess.”

You hold your tongue, barely able to recognize the girl in the mirror. You’ve never wanted to be a princess. It felt useless to want something so trivial. But the way Asha looks at you, the way her voice lifts, for a moment you believe her.

When you get back to the clinic, Asha fills you in on the event. She wants to formally introduce you and Nemo to her people. They have possible allies coming, so she wants to make a good impression. She also has a worrying concern that something may happen. “I want Nemo there, just in case,” she confides in you. “I hopefully won’t need him, but I feel safer when he is around. I can’t shake this awful feeling.”

“You don’t need to whisper around me,” Nemo says as he comes into the room. “I know you and your motives better than you think.”

“You think I have motives?” Asha laughs.

Nemo gives her a look. “I think it’s adorable that you think you can rattle me.”

Asha winks at you. “He’ll look handsome all dressed up. That’s my underlying motive in all this.”

A blush blooms on your cheeks. You’ve only ever seen Nemo in his work clothes - and that one time he was naked, but you don’t think about that. He would look handsome in a dark suit; he always sticks to that white coat. You imagine adjusting his tie, him looking down at you with a smile in his eyes. He would settle his hand on the small of your back, and since the dress has a low-cut back, his fingertips would graze your skin… 

Instantly you shake the idea from your head. Keep it buried, you tell yourself. Keep it buried.

The event is taking place outside, at the edge of the forest Asha calls home. There will be dancing, lots of food, and several special performances throughout the night. Asha promises to spend time with you, but she has duties as a community leader that she must attend to first. It will be your first time alone in a crowd with Nemo. You’ve actually never seen him deal with a crowd, so you’re curious to see how the event goes.

Once the day arrives, Asha styles your hair and does a little makeup look for you. As she paints the lipstick on, holding your chin in her palm, she’s so close you catch a waft of her scent. 

“There we are.” Asha sits back and starts putting things away.

Nemo appears in the kitchen, fidgeting with the sleeves of his suit. “I can’t get these to work.”

“You’re a surgeon, and you can’t get cufflinks to work?” Asha glances back at you. “Can you help him while I finish here?”

Nemo is wearing a dark blue suit with a black shirt underneath. He’s not wearing a tie, but he looks dashing all the same. You take his wrist, helping him put the cufflinks into place. “I don’t mean to stare,” he says quietly. “But you look-” He hesitates, and you can almost see his choice of next words whirling around his head. “You look quite spectacular.”

It’s something you never expected to hear from him, and you smile. “Thank you.” You reach up bravely to smooth down his lapels. “You look quite spectacular yourself.”

He scoffs and takes a step back. “Anyone can dress a cadaver,” he grumbles. “I’m not used to wearing such things.”

“You both look beautiful.” Asha chimes in brightly. “I cannot wait to show you both off.” She takes your hand as you leave.

There is a circular meadow close inside the treeline of the forest, and it’s there Asha is holding this special gala. Music is already playing, and you see many more rabbit women moving about. Some have soft lavender hair, others have dark purple. Some have small ears, some have large ones, or fluffy ones, but they all have that same special light that Asha carries. 

“I’ll come back soon, promise.” Asha says apologetically. “You two mingle. Find something good to eat.”

Nemo is awkwardly quiet as you both stand there. People move around you, talking, laughing, having fun while you both watch. He clears his throat, then offers his arm to you. “Let’s go find something to drink. Asha raves about the strawberry wine.”

You link your arm with his, basking in the closeness. “You don’t drink?”

“I don’t do anything,” he sighs. “But I like seeing you enjoy things.”

You and Nemo skirt the crowd, weaving along the edges until you reach a table laid with intricately stacked cakes and hors d'oeuvres, as well as glittering glasses of bright pink wine. 

“I know I see lots of people for work,” Nemo sighs as he places a glass in your hand, “but I cannot fathom enjoying a gathering like this.” He looks out over the sea of people.

“It's an expectation,” you murmur. “We’re told from a young age we should enjoy being social. So when someone doesn't, it’s like they’re broken or something.”

“I wouldn't go that far,” Nemo says. “I would much rather spend an evening at my desk with you and Asha in the room. That is social enough for me.”

You hide a soft smile as you take a drink. The music swells through the clearing, and across the way the stage is set. The performers strike up a mesmerizing, acrobatic dance. When they finish, another song begins, and the attendees begin to dance.

You sip the wine slowly, already feeling dazzled and lightheaded. Nemo leans down beside you, and his hair brushes against your shoulder. “Would you like to dance?”

You nearly choke on your drink, and you set the glass aside quickly. You dab at your mouth with a napkin and shake your head. “I don’t even know how to dance.”

Nemo offers his hand. “I can show you the steps.”

Without thinking it over, or at all, you take Nemo’s hand. There, in the shade of the trees, a little apart from the others, Nemo takes you into his arms. One hand settles on the small of your back to guide you, while the other holds your hand out. You begin to sway with the music as Asha begins to sing. Her voice carries through the air and lifts you off your feet as Nemo begins to move you.

“I can’t remember why I know how to do this,” he murmurs low. “I just know. I don’t think I’ve ever even danced with Asha before.”

You figured he had done everything with Asha. It’s a shock to find he’s sharing his first dance with you. You start to forget the world around you. Everything is just Asha and Nemo. Then a man bumps into you, and knocks you back into the real world.

“Excuse us,” Nemo mutters as he moves you aside protectively. 

The man glances back as he passes, and there is something in his eyes that sets your nerves on edge. You can’t put your finger on it, but he makes you beyond worried.

“Excuse me,” the man chuckles. “But this is not the dance floor. You can canoodle with your girl elsewhere or show her off out there.” The man takes a glass of strawberry wine and downs it quickly before vanishing back into the crowd.

Nemo scoffs, his full palm on your exposed back. “Are you alright? You’re shaking.”

You look down at your hands and find them trembling so you clasp them together. “It’s fine. It’s nothing.”

Nemo takes you aside to sit down and fetches you some water. Asha’s voice swells over the crowd as she sings, and hearing her eases your nerves slightly. When Nemo returns, he’s gotten you some water and a small plate of fresh fruit. He stands beside you, glaring out into the crowd. You find yourself a little angry, considering the moment with Nemo was broken. But you can’t shake the sense of dread.

“Better?” Nemo asks as you stand.

You nod at him. “Thank you. You don’t need to worry so much.”

“I’m your doctor.” He sounds almost teasing. “I have to worry.”

You smile as you take his hand again, and then a scream rings through the woods. Grotesque shapes begin to ooze down from the trees, dripping down like melting fragments of the darkening sky, seeping into the light and pooling on the ground. One of them touches someone. The person spasms and collapses to the ground, writhing as the shadow pours into their mouth.

The crowd scatters wildly, trying to flee, but they quickly become encircled and trapped by the strange creatures. Several people dart from the trees and surge forward, taking over the stage. Screams of terror fill the air, and Nemo protectively places you behind him.

“What’s going on?” you gasp in panic.

“Stay with me,” he growls.

As you look around, the air changes color and warps before your eyes. The lush trees bend and contort, taking strange, ghastly shapes. They seem to curl in like claws, moving through the crowd and clutching the revelers tightly so they cannot move. Nemo’s shadows start to rise around you, looking as they did the day he operated on you. They have a green glow, and a more human shape to them. They rush forward as Nemo sends them out, sweeping through the crowd and grabbing any of the grotesque shadows that they can.

A chorus of high-pitched shouts ring out, and Asha starts leading her lieutenants into combat. They charge, overtaking the swarm of people who jumped the stage. The stage itself has started to change shape - it gapes open like a mouth, with a pulsating, swollen tongue. It dips backwards, receding into the woods as the attackers retreat deeper within.

“They’re trying to lead them off,” Nemo whispers. His eyes look upward, and you follow. Just above you is a strange shape in the sky, like a seam tearing open. It slowly widens, and staring at it makes your eyes ache horribly. 

Nemo cups the back of your head, pressing your face into his side. “Don’t look.” Around the edges of his mask, strange clouds of vapor waft around his mouth when he speaks. People are still screaming, panicking. All around you is chaos. 

“Whatever these are...” he says through clenched teeth, “they feel familiar to me.” You bury your face in his jacket. His body is tense as he holds you tightly, pulling you closer. “There is so much anger though, so much suffering. They’ve been forced here. They can’t control it. It’s just agony for them!”

People are running not only from the men and their creatures, but Nemo’s shadows. You look around. All the chaos is causing Nemo’s shadows to flicker. He can’t concentrate, so the shadows can’t do what they need to.

You step out of Nemo’s grasp and gather the courage to speak - not just speak, but command. “Everyone!” you call out. “Follow the green shadows! They can lead you to safety! Head towards the edge of the forest and keep moving that way. Don’t look back! You will get out of this!”

You direct the confused people towards shadows you indicated, which start to take a more defined shape as Nemo regains his concentration. He struggles, though. Whatever is happening is visibly bothering him. You see flashes of something around him. It looks like armor, but then all you see is his regular clothes. His shadows lurch dazedly. As you survey them, in the distance you can make out a strange light radiating from deep in the woods. You’re not sure how, but you feel as though that is the cause of all of this.

You take a firm hold of Nemo, grasping his arms and nodding your head. “I’ll get you there. Don’t worry. Just focus for now. Keep focusing.” You start leading him, keeping him close as you guide him through the crowd. People who have been possessed by the grotesque shadows are jerking and writhing, their outlines billowing and blurring like mist. 

Nemo’s shadows guard you, but there are so many others around you that sometimes they get lost in the crush, or flicker out of existence. Asha’s followers are fighting the assailants all around you, both human and monster. Then you see Asha, pinning one of the attackers’ arms behind his back. She spots you, and for a moment her eyes light up.

There is a stillness as you look at her, but then something smashes into you and you scream. Nemo himself lunges, taking hold with both arms and ripping the creature in two. 

“They want living hosts,” he snarls. “We cannot dawdle here.”

You grasp his upper arms again, leading him into the darkness of the woods. Asha’s battle cries echo behind you.

More of the grotesque shadows follow you into the woods. Your dress catches on thorns and tree branches, all of them twisted by the horrible nightmare influence. It feels like fingers reaching out of the darkness to pull at you, but you know you must keep leading Nemo towards the disturbing light. You trip and fall when something grabs your ankle. Nemo is still in a sort of trance as he controls his shadows. His expression is blank, and his eyes are wide and unmoving. You pick yourself up and take hold of his hand. 

“You have to tell Asha where we are. We need her. We’ll need help.” You wince in pain as your ankle throbs. “Please.” You grasp his shoulders. “Please, Nemo.”

His hand rests on your back, skin touching skin. “I’ll try.” His voice is hoarse and dry. He squeezes his arm around you. “I forgot.” A shadow billows out of him and whips away into the sky, heading back where you came from.

You lean against Nemo for support as you lead him further. The tear in the sky has grown, and the otherworldly light around you feels heavy and thick. The closer you get to its origin in the trees, the harder it is to breathe. The air itself is like syrup, and the light is becoming tangible. Your vision shifts, showing you strange objects and images. Nemo seems to change shape. The ground opens up, and the sound of it is a deafening roar. But you keep moving forward.

You hear a laugh, and your vision shifts again. Standing before you is the man who bumped into you before. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t my dear old friend - what was it, Nemo?” He laughs scornfully. You see his mouth keep moving, but you can hear nothing over the roar of the shadows pouring out of the gap.

There is a look of rage on Nemo’s face, and the moment you let him go, he lunges forward. You fall to your knees and hear the clang of metal. Looking up, you see Nemo struggling with the man. For a split second they appear to be wearing spectral suits of armor and wielding crossed swords, but then you blink, and there are shadows surrounding them.

The attacking shadows suddenly scatter from Nemo, and he summons a great scythe from the air. It glows brilliant green as he starts to raise it. To your horror, you see him trembling, and so can his opponent. 

The man smirks and claps his hands slowly as Nemo’s shadows begin to flicker and vanish from his side. “Well done, Nemo. But you and I both know you’re stretching yourself thin. All this posturing - and for what, a young lady?” His eyes move to you. For an instant he looks like he’s wearing black armor, with the skull of a misshapen animal over his head. “Let her go, or this will take hold.” He points into the sky, where something massive is pouring out of the fissure. It drips down slowly at first, then pours out like a waterfall, seething and bubbling as it comes closer and closer to Nemo.

You scream for Nemo as he suddenly drops his weapon. He gives an answering scream as he writhes, just like the people in the clearing. He falls to the ground and sinks his fingers into the earth. He shrieks, thrashing and tossing, beating his head against the ground. You race towards him as the man laughs triumphantly. 

“One more vessel for the road. Anything living, take it,” he says to the shadows. 

You reach for Nemo, but his hand lashes out and grabs your wrist, gripping you like cold iron. You feel that fear again - the same ice-cold terror from when you first met Nemo. It swallows you whole and tears at you while he crushes your wrist, still screaming. But you don’t struggle. You don’t fight. A sudden calm follows the fear. In your head, you hear the shadow inside Nemo whisper its cruel, horrible intentions. But you ignore its threats. 

Fear is something you know. But more than that, you know Nemo. You sink to your knees and take Nemo’s face into your hands. His grasp on you is a vise, but he does not move. You’re shaking all over, but you know pain. You know suffering. You know what you must do.

“It’s okay,” you whisper in a weak voice. “I know it hurts. I know you’re suffering.” You blink tears from your eyes. “But you don’t have to. You’re not alone, and I will keep you safe. I’ll hold you and protect you.” You touch his other arm with your free one. “You can be scared, but you don’t have to suffer alone.”

The ominous whispers grow fainter, then trail off into a moan of longing. Nemo’s arms embrace you, not in iron, but in supplication. He clings to you like an anchor as he tries to weather the storm. He gasps for breath, pulling himself free of the shadow within him. 

“Nemo!” you cry.

“I’m here,” he chokes. “I’m here!” His weapon flies back into his hand, and he charges the man in the dark, spectral armor. One of Nemo’s shadows surrounds you, enveloping you as the two continue to fight. You shiver and take deep breaths, sobbing with relief. Then you look ahead, further into the trees, and see a strange machine. The otherworldly light is emerging from towering coils at the top. Thinking quickly, you rush towards what appears to be a control panel, hoping to shut it down. A grotesque shadow grabs you and tosses you aside. 

Nemo’s shadow catches you. “Wait for Asha,” it whispers.

You realize now what Nemo is doing. He’s not trying to defeat this man. If he can keep him away from the device long enough, then Asha will locate them and destroy it. You feel so helpless doing nothing, but then you see a warm, white light in the distance. Like a meteor, a bolt of it streaks through the darkness, dispersing the shadows and the pulsating air and striking near the machine. Another bolt follows, then another. Finally, one bolt hits the machine, and a muffled explosion rocks the ground. The coils burst in a shower of sparks, which fall harmlessly to the ground. The machine smokes, then goes silent. The otherworldly light fades, and the tear in the sky begins to groan and hiss. Everything goes horribly still for a second, and then the shadows rush in, surging upwards towards the gap.

“I thought we wanted this,” you hear the man whisper sadly. You turn to see Nemo and the stranger standing still together as the shadows rush around them. The man looks broken, sad and frustrated. He stares upwards as everything pours back into the seam in the sky. 

“We?” Nemo mutters. “Who are we?”

The man laughs half-heartedly. “How stupid,” he shakes his head. “You were always foolish. I just never assumed you’d let it go so far.” He falls to his knees as he looks up at Nemo. “It was supposed to be worth it. Remember that? Even if we caused so much suffering, it was worth it. Right?” His body slouches, even as his face remains turned to the sky. “We never belonged here. We were supposed to belong there.”

Then the man’s head drops, and he suddenly goes very still. Nemo falls to his knees and braces his hands against the ground. You stand, rushing towards him and kneeling at his side. 

“I’m here.” You take him in your arms. You see flashes of things you can’t understand, a world beyond your knowledge. You pull Nemo closer into your embrace, leaning his head against your shoulder. There is something there, a feeling with all those images. It is weakness and fear, exhaustion beyond belief. It feels so strong you think you might suffocate, but then it fades, slowly sinking down till it is only a memory.

You cling to Nemo as his eyes flicker. The light in them is growing dim as his body sinks against you. You tighten your arms around him, afraid to let go, and kiss his forehead gently.

“It’s okay,” you whisper. “You can go if you want. I understand. There’s so much pain you’ve experienced. I won’t make you stay if you have to leave. But...” Your voice cracks, and tears flow freely from your eyes. “But if you go, so many people will be sad. You’ll be missed, because there are so many here who love you. You do so much good for people in this world. I don’t know if you see it.”

You hug him tighter. “People want you here. Asha would want you here.” You bury your face in his hair. “I want you here. I’ve been so afraid to want anything in this world. But you saved me and you showed me...” You sob bitterly. “You showed me that I can want and not let it hurt me. I want you, and it means so much to me to have you here.”

The air starts to lighten. The tear is groaning, hissing, slowly receding to a tiny seam in the sky. Nemo doesn’t move. He doesn’t make a sound. You kiss his forehead again and shiver as the tears flow. 

The gap seals shut, and you can hear Asha calling for you. Nemo sits up and cups his palm around your face. His eyes light up, glowing so brightly it hurts to look at them. You struggle to breathe through your sobs as he looks at you with tenderness. 

“I thought I heard someone,” he says weakly. “They were calling my name… the one I can’t remember.” He places his head on your chest, resting there as you hold him. “I wanted to follow it, but I heard you. You were holding me, and it felt right.” He closes his eyes, listening to your heartbeat. “I don’t need to remember, as long as you call me.”

Asha suddenly grabs you from behind, clutching you tightly. “I was so scared!” She moves around you until she can face you directly, checking you all over for any injuries before she bends close and kisses you. Her lips are soft and warm, stealing what little breath you had. She holds you and Nemo, sobbing and laughing with relief that you’re safe.

A flurry of activity follows. Asha and her followers round up the last of the people who were aiding the black knight’s attack. Then they help the remaining victims clear out, and arrange for medical attention for the injured. The body of the dead man is taken away, to await identification. You never even learned his name.

At last, towards dawn, Asha takes you back to the clinic, where Nemo falls into a trance again. “It’ll be okay. He needs a moment.” Asha kisses you softly again. “Thank you! You were so brave. You protected us, so now let me take care of you.”

Asha fills the tub with hot water and leaves you to soak while she goes to make you tea. You’re exhausted, but you know you need to stay awake. The warm water starts to lull you away when you feel something brush against your cheek.

You sit up, and there’s a shadow dancing by the side of the tub. It balances on the edge on delicate feet, swishing a long tail like a phantom cat. It meows, and for a moment you’re playing with your cat - the one you were caring for years ago. The sun is warm, and her fur is soft. You cuddle her close before you realize you’re still in the bath. A wave of love passes between you both, and the shadow purrs before it jumps from your lap and slinks away into the dark.

The world has changed somehow. It’s different than before. You want to understand this newness.

Asha comes in with the tea and smiles warmly at you. “How are you feeling?”

You look up shyly at her. “Better. Would you like to join me?” You’re not sure where the courage to ask comes from, but you’re happy to have asked it.

Asha’s smile grows, but it fades as you get out of the tub. Her ears droop in disappointment as you drain the bath, but when you refill it with hot water she laughs. “It was getting a bit cold,” you say bashfully. You take her hand as both of you sit in the tub. You drink tea together - a black tea with some kind of spicy root - and occasionally you steal glances at her.

“I’m amazed by what you did out there. I knew you led everyone, but I never could take in the scope before.” You smile at her. “I’m so impressed.”

“Thank you, but everyone has special skills they can utilize. Sometimes, those people don’t even know it. They just think that they’re ordinary.” She looks you dead in the eyes. “But it’s those ordinary people, those beautiful people, who make life worth living.”

Your face burns, and you glance aside. “You and Nemo are both so wonderful,” you confess. “I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop needing you. I want… I want you to need me, too.”

Asha puts her hands in yours and slides them up to rub your wrists. “Thank you. That makes me so happy to hear.” She turns fully towards you and cups your face in her palm. 

“I want to touch you,” you whisper.

Asha smiles. “I would love that.” She moves close, resting her back against your chest. 

“Can I touch your ears?” You’ve wanted to for so long, you start to tremble with excitement.

“I love having them touched.”

Asha rests her head on your shoulder as you gently run your fingers up her ears. The fur is velvety, and they’re so warm. Asha coos happily and shivers.

“Can I touch your legs?” you ask.

Asha playfully lifts her leg from the water and stretches it out. “All yours.” You move to the side, taking her calf and stroking it. It’s hard and strong, and you knead the muscle carefully. Asha moans, relaxing further into the warm water. She watches you all the while, her eyes never leaving you once.

“You can ask for anything,” Asha purrs. “Just tell me your limits.”

You start to reply when you hear a floorboard creak. You look up to see Nemo leaning in the bathroom doorway, watching you.

“Lurker,” Asha teases. “How long have you been there?”

“I was lured by the sounds of sweet, happy moans,” Nemo replies suavely as he steps into the bathroom. “We talked about this, Asha,” he scolds. “We would speak to her together.”

“How could I say no when she’s being so loveable?” Asha pouts.

“You’re not allowed to play your seductive games without me, madam. We have to do this together.” He kneels beside the tub.

“Do what?” you ask nervously.

Nemo reaches up and gently touches your cheek before smoothing his fingertips over your lip. “We know you saw us together that morning. We didn’t want you to run away.”

You shrink away, wishing you could hide under a rock. “I’m sorry.”

“No, no,” Asha says sweetly. “We’ve both been fond of you for a long time, but we wanted to make sure you felt safe with us.” She puts her arms around you and kisses your cheek.

“You wanted to...” You tremble.

“We care about you,” Nemo murmurs. “I’m not the most… tactful person. But Asha and I - we want you with us, always.” He presses his thumb to your lips like a kiss. “We love you so very much.”

“I want that...” you sniffle. “I want your love so badly.”

Nemo helps you out of the water. “Then let us give it to you, any way you like it.”

“I’ve never wanted sex with anyone,” you say. “But I want that touch, and to be intimate.” You glance up shyly at him. “As long as my vulva isn’t touched, I would very much love to be touched by you both.”

Nemo and Asha take you to Nemo’s room. Once on the bed, Asha embraces you, wrapping you up in warmth as she presses her naked body against yours. Her skin is soft and rosy. Above you, Nemo strips down to only his pants. His skin is marked with scars, ones much darker and more prolific than Asha’s.

A certain intensity fills the room, emanating from Nemo and his eyes. His large frame slides onto the bed, with no shadows in sight, but his body pulses with an energy you want to feel on your skin.

Asha happily strokes and nibbles you all over, her mouth leaving small wet trails along your skin that burn before cooling. She sucks and bites in places, always leaving a kiss after. She’s having far too much fun, and you can tell she’s been saving these kisses for you for a long time.

Nemo’s palm follows Asha’s kisses. He touches the small surgical scars on your skin, and whispers how soft your are into your ear. You shiver as he rubs your legs, the small of your back. Then he cups his hand over your eyes. 

“Keep your eyes closed. Don’t look.”

You do as he bids, and you feel lips against your own. Asha giggles excitedly as her own kisses land on your shoulder. Nemo’s kiss lingers and presses deep. It’s dry and cool, unlike Asha’s, and you can feel scars and deep gouges along the edges of his mouth. You touch his cheek, smelling rain and earth as he breathes deep. You wonder what he’s been through, what horrors he’s seen, what pain he’s felt. You kiss deeper, wanting to take that sadness away.

Nemo captures your hand briefly, then presses his mask back on when the kiss ends. “Lie back, my loves,” he whispers. He cradles your back again as Asha buries her face against your chest. You’re pressed between them, warm, comforted, and happy. Asha starts to tickle, and you squirm. Nemo grumbles softly and laughs as he rubs your back. Asha holds you tightly and blankets you with kisses. Nemo’s kisses come rarely, but they’re more than you ever expected.

The dawn arrives in a blur, soft, warm and wonderful. You pass the day in a dream, and once night comes, you sink into bed with your lovers, surrounded by a darkness that’s new but welcome. You feel the air like summer, the bed like a warm meadow. Nemo is the night that wraps silently and comfortingly around you. Asha is the stars shining brightly in the sky, making you feel safe and guided. You want to exist in this space forever. You want to stay with them always. This is all you need, and more than you could have ever hoped for.