Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

y/n

About 10 years ago...

"GET BACK HERE YOU BITCH!" Your father screeched at you as you attempted to escape from his clutches. Why were you running away? Well, you punched a kid at school, but right now that's not important. What's important is that you get away before your father whoops your ass.

You make a sharp turn down the hallway into your room and lock the door. You sit down, push all your weight against it and brace for impact. But impact didn't come. He was just standing there at your door.

"Don't think that just because you're in that room *deadname*, that I won't punish you for what you did." He told you with a sinister tone in his voice. Your heart sank in your chest, you knew what he'd do and that was honestly the last thing you wanted.

"No! I don't want to!" You cry out. Your father just scoffs at you.

"Oh come on, you want it, don't lie." You hear a set of keys jingle outside your door. You get up and scramble under your bed, holding your breath and praying that he won't hurt you.

The next day...

You sat alone at a tennis court, watching all the other high-schoolers play their games. You couldn't bring yourself to get up to your usual shenanigans after what happened yesterday, all you could do was sit there and space out for a while. But the universe wasn't going to treat you kindly today, because an annoying southern accent filled your ears.

"Well, well, well," the voice teased you, "By yourself huh? How pathetic."

The voice belonged to a chubby and tall boy named Bob. He had dark blue eyes, black hair, and an airy southern drawl. He was wearing clothes that you'd think only a goth would wear. He was none other than Bob Velseb, a classmate that you've been feuding with for years now. The way the conflict started was quite silly and petty in both of your opinions, but you both kept it going for your own amusement. At this point, it would be considered a hate-crush more than anything.

"You can't really talk, Velseb. I don't see your friends with you." You look around as you say this with a smug look on your face. "If you had any, really."

Bob rolled his eyes and scoffed at you. He sat with you, twiddling his thumbs. You both just sat there in silence for a while.

"Ya haven't been startin' anything today. Kinda unusual fer ya dontcha think?" He smirks at you.

"Things haven't been... Smooth sailing, lately." You tell him hesitantly, he grunts in agreement.

"Yeah I can relate t' that a bit." Bob leans back onto the fence that barricades the courtyard. The bell rings, signalling the end of lunch. Bob gets up and makes his way to class and you continue to sit there, eyes fixated on the floor.

Years go by, you and Bob both graduate school and part ways, you finally got out of the house and adjusted to the world outside. You were getting therapy and you had a job. Eventually you saved up enough money to live decently somewhere, so you moved to a small town in the country and got a job at the local cinema. You made some friends, like Ignacio and Frank, and you sometimes babysat as a side job . You finally had a hold on your life, you still go to therapy but managing your PTSD has been easier.

Now you're in your mid 20s, it's the middle of the year and it was Frank's birthday. He decided it would be great to go to Boys n' Grills for dinner, much to your dismay though. You were sitting at a table with them as they rambled about what they were going to do in the future.

"Howdy! Welcome to Boys n' Grills. What will y'all be eatin' on this fine evenin'?" A thick and airy southern voice filled the trio's ears, all three of you looked up to see a large man. Black hair, blue eyes, chin scruff and a warm smile on his face. You swore you could've recognized that voice. Ignacio and Frank both ordered burgers, and turned to you expectantly.

"Um, do you have- Any vegetarian options?" You manage to choke out. The man tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"We only have fries." He replied bluntly.

"I'll take that then, but large." The man nods and writes everyone's orders onto a notepad.

"Alright, y'all need any refreshments?" The trio tell the man their preferred drinks and he walks to the kitchen with a satisfied hum.

"He seemed very familiar." You mutter to yourself.

"That's because he's Bob Velseb, the best butcher in town. He's well known for his cooking." Frank explains to you, seemingly taking pride in that claim. Your eye visibly twitches at the mention of his name. "You alright, y/n?"

"Yeah, it's just that we went to the same high school. But I reckon he's forgotten by now." You look back on those times with a slight fondness, they were fun times even though the context was incredibly silly.

"Lucky." Ignacio chuckles. "There's quite a lot of people who would've killed to have grown up with him."

You raise a brow and turn your head to Ignacio in concern. He sees your reaction and laughs.

"Haha! You should see your face right now! Priceless!" He laughs at you for a while before settling down. "Let's just say, Bob has a lot of... Admirers."

"You're joking." You can't even believe what you're hearing. But there was not a trace of mischief or deceit on your friend's face. "No fucking way."

"Yep, although don't stress, he ain't interested in any of them." Frank leaned back in his chair with an amused look on his face. Bob comes back with the drinks and food, for a brief moment both of you lock eyes, and you could see a glint of recognition on his face. You watch as he walks back to the kitchen and you continue to enjoy your time with your friends.

Chapter Text

Today was your day off work, and you decided to spend that time outside in the town. The place was quiet as usual, a lot of people were either working or just staying home. You, on the other hand, were chilling in an alleyway, reading a book. You quite liked alleyways, they were dark and isolated, no one could really bother you. They gave you a sense of security for some reason, probably had a lot to do with trauma. Unfortunately, that silence was cut short when you heard some very heavy footsteps get closer to your location. Whoever was making that noise was obviously carrying something heavy, and by instinct you hid next to a bin. You watched as the unknown figure threw a large bag down onto the floor, and sat down near the bin you were hiding next to. You stared at the bag and saw blood on it, which made you gasp slightly. You covered your mouth, and the silence in the alley was deafening. Suddenly, the figure was towering above you, a sinister grin on their mask. They were large, having a body that seemed to remind you of Bob's, but you tried to shake off that thought. They were wearing a red sweater and black jeans, on their head was a mask and two devil horns perched on their head. Their hair appeared to be black and their eyes under the mask were blue. There is no fucking way, you thought as you quickly took in every detail of this guy.

"Um, hi?" You choke out. The figure continues to stand there and watches as you move to take a peek at the bag on the floor. "Damn. You couldn't just buy fresh meat for the diner? You really are pathetic, Bob."

Bob's eyes widened under the mask.

"Excuse me?" His voice darkened as he leaned towards you. He brandished a knife in his hand and held it up to your throat. "How the hell could ya recognize me under this disguise, y/n?"

"I can never forget someone who looks the way you do. Do you think I'm stupid or something? Your eyes and hair are a big giveaway, no one has a glare like yours." You smirk at him. He chuckles and takes off his mask.

"Ya really haven't forgotten my handsome face, have ya?" You roll your eyes in response.

"Well, we still have some unresolved business." He raises a brow at this. "So why would I forget?"

"Ah, I see. Ya still continuin' that little rivalry we had." Bob scratches the nape of his neck. "Wow, y/n, ya never changed a bit. I'm flattered."

You laugh and stand up, making sure to brush off any dust or dirt you may have picked up.

"What's that?" You point to the bag, Bob swiftly turns his head to look at it.

"Oh it's nuthin', just some meat for the diner." He says nonchalantly.

"Let me guess, human?" You fold your arms and give Bob a stern look. He refuses to meet your gaze, lips pursed. "Knew it. Not surprised considering the amount of cannibal-related facts you'd openly give me, not to mention your keen interest in human biology."

Bob pouted in annoyance and defeat at you.

"You ain't gonna tell anyone are ya? 'Cause if ya do..." He slides the tip of his knife faintly across your chest. "I'd hafta kill ya, which would be a shame, I quite liked ya."

You think for a moment. You could hand him in to the police, get a reward, heck you could become a hero. But on the other hand you could stay quiet and forever hold the knowledge of Bob's crimes to your heart. Regardless, none of this would affect you, because you're vegetarian.

Fuck it.

He wins.

"Nah, can't be fucked. I'm vegetarian anyway, whatever you're doing won't affect me." Bob visibly relaxes, his smile softening. He takes the knife away from your chest and chuckles darkly.

"Alrigh' then." He straightens up his posture. "But that don't mean our little rivalry is over. I still need some entertainment."

"Likewise." You pick up your book and prepare to leave. "Welp, good luck on your silly activities, dipshit."

"Yeah, yeah whatever. At least it's more fun than your dingy ass book." He grumbles, putting on his mask, picking up the bloodied bag and walking away.

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The next few weeks consisted of petty conflict between you and Bob, from the way both of you behaved now, to how you both were in the past. You would tease and make fun of him for being a cannibalistic serial killer and he'd throw some insults back about you being an author. Eventually it began to escalate, vandalism, unexpected doorstep parcels full of bones and pranks that you would consider to be borderline illegal. In the end, for both of you though, it was nothing but fun and games. Whatever rivalry you two had all those years ago was just amature levelled stuff, this shit was for the adults.

Sometimes, Bob would break into your house and leave creepy porcelain dolls in very unexpected places, earning multiple shrieks from you whenever one just appeared out of no where. As a payback, you'd throw a stink bomb into the diner's kitchen and would leave a heartfelt note telling Bob that he's not fucking funny, and that putting an Annabelle doll at the end of your bed isn't peak humour. He'd just reply with a note on your door saying 'I am actually really funny, you're just boring. Now go back to readin' that weird smut and cope.'. And with that knowledge that he snoops around your house, you've noted to place mousetraps in your drawers.

Today was quite strange though, Bob left a note on your bedside table, he was offering you a job. But not at Boys n' Grills, he isn't the boss there, but as his assistant of some sort. You weren't sure for what, so you left him a note in the diner accepting the offer. Sure enough, after he finished his shift he was knocking on your window where you slept. You awoke with a jolt and scurried out of bed to let him inside.

"You literally could've broken in you know?" You tell him as he climbs inside with a grunt.

"I know, but this is business stuff." He catches his breath. "I kinda need some help. One of my co-workers might be suspectin' what I'm doin'."

"Okay? And what do you want me to do?" You ask, folding your arms. Bob purses his lips and looks away.

"I may need ya to apply for a position at Boys n' Grills. Y'know to get him off my trail."

"How am I gonna do that huh? What's in it for me?" You raise a brow at Bob. He huffs in annoyance.

"Keep him away from the freezer, and I won't leave dolls around your house." Bob gives you a mischievous grin, as he remembers the countless squabbles you'd both have over those things.

"You know what? Fine. I'll do it." You finally agree. "But this doesn't fix anything between us."

"I know. But I appreciate the help nonetheless." He climbs out of your window, suddenly slipping and falling into the bushes outside. He yelps in surprise as you laugh your ass off from what you just saw. After he's gone, you get your resume and your files, gathering them up for the next day.

"Okay y/n, get the job, eliminate the enemy."

"Let's hope his boss is easy to deal with."

Chapter Text

You walked into Boys n' Grills, a binder in hand and nothing but your sheer confidence that you'll get the job. You did your best to appear presentable, yet authentic and tweaked your resume a bit to appeal to the boss. As you expected Bob was waiting for you at the front counter. He immediately headed into the kitchen and came out with his boss. His boss was not what you expected.

Judging by general appearance, they were most likely scene. The black hair with raccoon tails on them, the piercings, makeup and jewelry. They were short, but had a stance that demanded authority and respect. The badge on their chest displayed their name; Brae Wendez. They looked you up and down before they settled their eyes on the binder clutched in your hand.

"I'm guessing you're applying for a position here?" Their voice was soothing, in an almost hypnotic way.

"Oh! Yes, I would like to apply for a position here." You say as you straighten your back. Brae smiles and beckons you into the kitchen.

"Welp, come on through. I'll show ya around and ask a few questions." You follow them into the kitchen and they begin to point out the areas. They ask you some questions, mainly to do with your background as you give them the necessary documents they need. After a while, Brae welcomes you to the team and gives you the time for your training the next day.

"Oh, and one more thing," Brae stops you before you exit the diner, "Bob will be in charge of training you. You'll be partnered with him in the butchery."

"Alright, got it. Thank you again Mx Wendez."

"No problem, and don't worry, just call me Brae."

-----------------

"I cannot believe I got paired with you of all people." You sigh bitterly, as you pry meat away from a bone with your knife.

"Oh hush, quit your winin'. How do ya think I feel? I like workin' alone." Bob grumbles as you hand him the meat. You just scoff at him. "Anyways, there's some fresh meat in the freezer. Fetch."

You flip the bird to Bob and open the freezer. You are immediately greeted with a bloodied bag, a hand sticking out of it. Wonder who that is, you think to yourself as you haul the bag out of the freezer. Both you and Bob get to work at skinning the parts, separating the meat and storing the bones to be burnt. By the end of both of your shifts, blood was all over your aprons. There was no sign of that employee Bob needed you to get rid of today.

You enter your house and flop onto your couch, relieved to finally be able to relax. But that was cut short as your telephone rang. You swiftly pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Y/n! Y/n- come over quick!" You hear the panicked voice of Frank paired with hysterical sobbing on the other end.

"Why? Frank what's going on?"

"Just- Get over here! Please!"

"Alright I'll be there soon, hang in there." You hang up and hurry out of your house, running to where Frank lived. There he was, at the front door. You run over to him and pull him into a hug as he cries into the crook of your neck.

"It's going to be okay, I'm here now." You tell him softly. "Now, what happened?"

He quietly points to the lounge room, not moving from where he was and refusing to turn around. You cautiously make your way in, and are greeted with a gruesome scene. Blood was everywhere, and all that was left was the head of Frank's mother. No fucking way, you think to yourself, clenching your fists as your blood boils. You knew who did it, and sure, Frank's mother was terrible, but regardless Frank was still distressed by the scene. You didn't exactly care that someone died, but you were angry because Frank, your friend, was shaken from this.

"Frank, I'll call the cops. Wait there." You tell him as you dial 911.

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"YOU FUCKING CUNT!" You yell at Bob as you aim a punch directly at his jaw. He staggers back, bumping into the kitchen island in your home, but he didn't make a noise. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU BRO? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"

"I was doin' mah FUCKIN' JOB." He growls at you, baring his teeth.

"AND?! IT'S ONE THING TO DO YOUR JOB, BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING WHEN YOU SCARE MY FRIEND!" You scream at him, he winces. Bob thinks for a moment.

"Look, the lady was a bitch. I was doin' your friend a favor."

"You traumatized him!"

"Not my problem." He raises his hands in defense. Your gaze hardens at his lack of empathy. "And besides, weren't you plannin' on gettin' rid of her already?"

Your blood goes cold.

"That's none of your business." Your voice lowers.

"Kinda is, cause y'know, I'm a killer for fuck's sake." He shrugs.

"Okay, yeah, I was. But not in a way that would cause Frank to see it."

"I'd rather Frank hated me and not you. That's why I beat ya to it."

You roll your eyes.

"You have a twisted way of showing that you care." You mumble, folding your arms.

"Oh please, you're just as bad. You're literally assisting me, a cannibal, in my killings." He chuckles, before rushing at you. He pins you against the wall of your kitchen, a crazed gaze in his eyes. "And ya can't fool me. Ya think you're so SNEAKY eatin' that meat when I ain't lookin' huh? Ya think I haven't read those journals you've carelessly left strewn around this place?"

Your eyes widen in shock. He knew.

"I know everythin' about ya, y/n. Heck, I know how you feel about me. You really ain't doin' this rivalry just for entertainment, huh?" He narrows his eyes at you as his voice gets lower. "You're doin' it to get closer to me, and I wanna hear ya admit it."

For the first time in a while, you are unable to say anything. But you manage to sputter it out anyway.

"I- I did this because... I wanted to get closer to you." You admit, embarrassed. Bob smiles, he finally had you backed in a corner. He won.

"Looks like I won this little rivalry." He chuckles. You bow your head in defeat. Rivalry wasn't an option if you liked your 'enemy'.

"Aww, don't be sad." He coos at you, tilting his head to the side. "We can keep this goin', but I think we should make it more... Interestin'."

"Exactly how interesting?" You raise your brow suspiciously at him. Bob backs away from you, making his way to your front door.

"Oh, you'll find out. But here's a hint." He turns to face you. "The feelin' is mutual."

Bob winks at you before closing the front door behind him. You hear him leave your house and continue to stand there in disbelief. Never, in all your years, have you ever had your feelings reciprocated. And you never expected it to be your childhood enemy either.

Chapter Text

After a while of working with Bob, you find that the employee has been on his case again. Constantly trying to peek into the butchery, eyeing Bob suspiciously, his usual behaviour that Bob described. From what you've gathered, his name was Jason. He was quite lean, brown hair, dark eyes and impossibly annoying.

You weren't going to let him snoop around on your business. You caught him red-handed trying to lockpick his way into the butchery today, of course you did not take that lightly and cleared your throat. He snapped around and his eyes widened. Yeah I know what you're doing you prick, you say to him internally. He didn't need to hear that.

"What are you doing? You know that the butchery is off limits, right?" You tap your foot on the checkered floor. Jason gulps and stands up to face you.

"Oh uh... I was just- I was uh..." He stammered, not meeting your glare.

"You better have a good reason, because I don't like liars."

Jason thinks for a bit, before finally giving up.

"Okay, okay, you got me. Look, I have a suspicion that Bob is doing something not okay in that place. I just wanted to confirm that." He raises his hands in defeat.

"Huh. So your way of confirming that is by breaking in, and not talking with his co-worker about it?" You point to yourself and to your badge, emphasizing that you work with him. Jason's eyes practically pop out of his head in realization.

"I... Didn't think of that.." He muttered to himself, before speaking up, "I have a suspicion that Bob is serving human meat to the customers. It's just- The bodies of those who have died haven't been recovered, so I thought that Bob was behind it."

"What? Oh no, no no no, we don't chop up human meat I can promise you that." You put on your best performance at being bewildered and taken aback. "Look, Bob is a secretive man, albeit a bit mysterious, but trust me when I say that he would never do that. He's actually a sweet guy for someone who looks so intimidating. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Oh, well gosh that's a relief. Thanks for confirming that..." Jason squints at your badge, "y/n. Anyways, sorry for that. Have a good day!"

"You too!" You wave him goodbye as he strides away, as if a burden was lifted off his shoulders. You unlock the butchery and get to work, sorting through the freezer and preparing the meat for the day, sanitizing and cleaning the utensils. Bob made his way into the butchery, tying up his apron.

"G'mornin' y/n."

"Morning. I got Jason off your trail by the way, you're welcome." You smirk, pleased with yourself. Bob chuckles to himself, rolling up his sleeves.

"Good. 'Tis time that prick left us alone. I'on know what I'd do if I confronted 'im myself. Thank ya." He smiles warmly at you while sharpening his knife. You return the smile, wrapping the apron string around your waist. Bob sees that you're struggling to tie the apron from the back.

"Y'need help there?"

You nod in response. He walks up behind you and ties your apron for you into a neat bow. You could hear his breath behind you and you felt your face grow hotter, the neck on your hair standing on end. Bob notices that you froze up, but he doesn't say anything.

"Alrigh', let's get to work shall we?" He placed a hand on your shoulder and smiles at you, before heading to the freezer. You help him carry meat out of the freezer and you both began dissecting it.

-----------------------

You hung out with Frank and Ignacio at your house for the weekend. All three of you were playing Monopoly, having the time of your lives. Ignacio had just landed on your property, and he knew it too.

"C'mon Iggy, cough it up." You hold your hand out expectantly as he grumbles to himself. He hands you the money and pouts, only for all of you to burst out laughing at how dramatic he was being. You lean onto him in your laughing fit, causing him to blush profusely.

"Heh, you're real dramatic Igs." Frank snickers at him, which got him a glare in return.

"Oh shush, young man." He says, childishly poking his tongue out.

"I'm not young." Frank huffs, rolling the dice.

"Compared to us, 19 is pretty young, bro." You remind Frank.

After a while, you wave your friends goodbye. Frank seemed to be doing decent since his mother died, he was constantly distracting himself with a lot of things, hanging out with you and Iggy was one of them. You didn't mind, you genuinely cared for the guy and wanted the best for him, and if that meant a sacrifice to your alone time, then so be it.

You closed your door and hurried to your fridge, your mouth watering as you thought of what you'll have for dinner. You grabbed a package and pulled out the contents, preparing it for the pan like you would with your tofu.

You set it on a plate and dig into the greyish meat, taking in its flavour. The taste was something you couldn't quite pin down, it had the consistency of beef and had a taste somewhat similar, but also not, to pork or veal. It had a flavour but it also didn't. After your meal, you sat back and reflected.

You could understand why Bob liked human flesh, although you didn't really agree with the way he got it. In your opinion, the only meat you'd be willing to eat is human. Just as long as you didn't do the dirty work, of course. You cleaned your dishes and prepared to go to bed. You had no regret or second thoughts about what you just ate, you didn't really care.

That was the best meat you've ever had. And you wanted more.

Chapter Text

"So, y/n, I've been noticin' that quite a bit of meat has gone missin'." Bob announces out of nowhere, snapping you out of your work, "Care to explain?" You turn your head away from Bob, refusing to meet his glare.

"Uh- No- no. I don't know anything about that." You shyly turn to him in your obvious lie, to which his glare hardened in response. He grabbed your chin and forced you to look at him, you turned beet red.

"Don't lie to me." He tried his best to appear threatening, but it didn't have the same tone to it. He seemed more amused than anything with how you reacted. You attempted to gain your composure only to nervously stutter out a simple sentence.

"Um- I-I ate- I ate it." You watch as Bob's eyes widen in surprise.

"Pardon?" He lets go of you and looks at you in awe. You rub you chin and repeat the answer for him, even though you swore he heard the first time.

"I ate it."

You both stand there in awkward silence as Bob takes in what you just admitted to. Aren't they vegetarian, he thought to himself, Or am I goin' fuckin' insane? You get back to work as he was lost in thought, obviously this guy was going through the five stages of grief right now.

"Did ya like it?" He asked after a while. You set down your knife and look back on that night, the night you first consumed human flesh.

"Yep. But that's the only meat I'm having, animal meat doesn't and has never sat well with me." You smile at him softly, leaning onto the metal bench. Bob just grunts in acknowledgement and starts grinding the meat you prepared, lost in thought, AGAIN. Awkward couldn't even begin to describe how you felt.

"I wonder... If this could work out for the both of us." You pause your work and turn your head to him, the fuck was he saying? "I mean, we're both cannibals, and from what I know, y'don't like gettin' your hands dirty. So, what if we share the meat that I hunt for?" You consider this for a short moment. Honestly, it could work out, you could also keep him from getting caught.

"Sounds good. You hunt, while I keep you from getting caught."

"Ight bet."

You both share a smile before continuing the most boring task of shaping the meat into patties.

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Nos omne et omnis. Omnis datūrus est nōbīs plūs quam omnia.

"What the-" Bob picks up the flyer that was stuck to the butchery door and you both glance at it. You were both leaving for the day so you could go and drink at a bar, but you stumbled across an advert. All it had was a quote and a picture of a red cloak with holes in it, it wore an amulet around its neck.

"Probably something stupid." You suggest to Bob. He nods in agreement and crumples up the paper, tossing it into the nearest bin.

Bob drives you to the bar and you both order some mocktails. You weren't planning on getting drunk tonight, you needed to stay sober for work. You and Bob have a deep and meaningful chat in a booth, reminiscing on your childhoods and how stupid your rivalry was.

"Yeah I agree, it was stupid, I mean- Heh- T'was all sorted and we just kept on fightin' fer no reason!"

"Nah, for real, there wasn't much of a motive other than pure stubborness and spite. Glad we've moved past that phase though." You sip on your mocktail as Bob rests his head on his hand, scratching the table with his other one.

"I'm guessin' we really didn't have the same motive then." You set your glass down and look at him, puzzled.

"What do you mean?" You ask, confused. He glances at you and looks away.

"Well, uh, while y'may have done it out of strong will, I kinda kept it goin' because, uh... I liked you." Bob does not look at you as he says this, his cheeks dusted red. You blush in return, not sure how to take this information in.

"So... You stuck around because you wanted to be around me? And you had a crush on me?" You rest your chin on your knuckles, wanting some clarification. He nods in response. "Damn, and I was thinking you didn't feel the same. You were awfully good at hiding it." Bob met your gaze, surprised.

"You did?"

"Yeah, still do. But we both know that the feeling is mutual.~" You lean towards Bob with a smirk on your face. Gosh, this man is blushing like crazy, redder than his stupid looking mask. He returns your cheeky smirk and his entire demeanor changes, from shy and bothered, to bold and confident. Oh boy, you definetly have your work cut out for you.

"Oh I know. Why do ya think I haven't killed ya?" He leans towards you, mirroring your posture and expression. "If ya want, this could be our first date." You chuckle under your breath.

"Then it is." You smile, not looking away from him. He chuckles to himself and leans back, his hands resting on his stomach.

"Why don't we get outta here? We can watch a movie instead."

"Sounds good, I doubt you'll need directions to my house though." You both get up from your seats, leaving a tip on the table and walking to Bob's car, arms linked.

"I doubt I will darlin'." He replies, a mischeivous grin on his face. You laugh and lean your head onto his arm.

"Oh, what am I going to do with you?" You smile as Bob starts up his car engine, he just shrugs his shoulders. His response has a suggestive tone to it.

"I guess you'll find out."

Chapter Text

You and Bob cuddled on your couch, watching Kindergarten Cop. The movie got genuine laughs out the both of you as you both watched this silly man try and manage a class of immature and clueless kids. Unfortunately, your time together was interrupted by a knock at the door. Bob groaned in annoyance as you got up to answer the door, you shot him a look and opened it. You gasped in surprise at who was at the door. It was Brea, bloodied and messy, gripping a bloodied flour sack. They dropped the bag in front of you.

"Jason was at it again, so I dealt with him for you. You're welcome." They told you bluntly as you bent down and peered inside the flour sack. Bob came up behind you as you stared at the contents, you kept down your vomit and froze. It was Jason's head.

"Holy shit..." Bob whispered under his breath, before he confronted Brea, "Brea, why'd ya do this? Y'do realize that you're a criminal now, right?" Brea snorted at Bob's last question, rolling their eyes with their arms crossed.

"Bob, I don't think you've noticed, but I'm, like, the reason you and y/n have gotten away with what y'all are doing." Brea stated matter-of-factly, they seemed very pleased with themselves. Bob was dumbfounded, but you continued to stare at Jason's head, analyzing everything. You didn't feel disgusted or upset by this, oh no you didn't, but you felt... Strangely satisfied. The lifelessness, the look of terror as his face was frozen in his final moments. You looked up at Brea unblinkingly.

"How did you do it?" You ask, glaring at them.

"Well... I caught him inside the butchery. He managed to lockpick his way in and was taking photos of the freezer. I caught him and he explained what he was doing." Brea paused so you could process, and then continued, "I let him take more photos and snuck up on him with an axe, chopped his head clean off and cleaned up the crime scene. I removed any trace of fingerprints, cleaned the mess, removed all the human meat and replaced it with animal meat. I found the flyer you threw into the bin and placed it on his corpse. I left the axe and the blood in the butchery of course, but I made it look like it was cult related. And then I left."

"Smart." Bob grunted. "Did ya bleach anythin'?" Brea nodded in reply.

"How are we getting rid of this?" You ask the pair, holding the sack in your hands.

"Burn it." Brea suggested. "I do need to clean up though."

"Go ahead, did you bring a change of clothes?" You lead them inside.

"No, I wasn't expecting to eliminate a pest today." You thought for a moment after Brea answered you.

"You seem to be my size, you can wear my stuff." Brea nods and heads to your room to find some clothes. You stand there, zoned out and dissasociated. Bob hugs you from behind, placing his chin on your shoulder in an attempt to comfort you.

"You alright darlin'?" He asks you, his voice soft and reasuring. You're quiet for a while.

"I don't know." You finally reply. "I guess I'm trying to process all this, to process why this gives me satisfaction." You gesture to the sack with your head, to emphasize what you were suggesting to. Bob nods in understanding.

"Understandable. I was like this too the first time I saw gore this close." Bob let go of you and massaged your shoulders reassuringly, "It's gonna be alright darl, for now just take it easy." You nod slowly and lean back into Bob's touch, closing your eyes.

----------

Brea drove you both deep into a forest, hours away, taking routes to make sure no one saw the car. The three of you set up a fire pit and tossed the sack into the flames, staying there well into dawn as the last remenants of the fire flickered out. During this time you got to know Brea, you found out that they are apart of a cult and that they are essentially immune to death. They showed you and Bob a scar on their chest and explained that's where their amulet is. Bob showed a lot of interest in this cult, you just listened and began to show interest when Brea explained the pros and cons.

You and Bob arrived home at midday and you flopped onto your bed, exhausted. Bob stretched, cracking his back.

"Bob?" You call to him quietly.

"Yeah?"

You pause.

"Could you... lay with me? Until I sleep?" You ask him. Bob's face flushes pink before he gathers his composure and replies.

"Of course darlin'." He replies softly and lays next to you. You turn to him and snuggle against his body, he wraps one of his arms around you and uses the other for you to rest your head on. He strokes your head, and you slowly drift off to sleep in his arms.

Chapter Text

Frank hadn't been talking to you or Ignacio for over week, and you were both getting concerned. Ignacio and you both searched the town only to find no trace of your friend. You didn't know what hurt more, him leaving or how you've had to watch his mental health decine rapidly. Finally, you and Ignacio spotted him in a park. He was sitting on a bench, reading a book. You both approached him and he looked up, glaring at you specifically.

"Hey Frank, where were you for the past several days? You practically disappeared." Ignacio asked, careful with his choice of words and tone. Frank sets his book beside him and sighs.

"I've been thinkin' on things. And something ain't right. I've been searchin' around for my mother's remains, and I found one of her shoes at the butchery that YOU work at." Frank glared at you accusingly, you admit, you were caught off guard.

"W-what?" Frank scoffs at your response.

"Oh don't act oblivious. Because I did a lot of askin' around and it seems people have been finding peoples' things at that place. And those people are dead. So, y/n, I wanna know. Did you kill my mother?" Ignacio looked at you, worried, as you tried to think of a response. Ignacio spoke up for you.

"Frank, buddy, you can't assume that y/n did that just because your mother's shoe just so happened to be right near where they work. You cut us off and disappear because you think y/n did something like that? Seriously?" Ignacio began to sound quite annoyed, but Frank ignored him.

"I also noticed, y/n, that you're friends with someone from a cult. A LITERAL CULT that encourages this shit. And what's worse is that the police didn't do nuthin' about my mother's death and pinned it on some rando, and they have cult-related symbolism on their uniforms." Frank takes a step forward to you, his fists clenched. At the mention if the cult, Ignacio glares at Frank. You force yourself to make eye contact with Frank.

"Fine. I did. Your mother is a deadbeat anyway, and I didn't intend to scare you. I thought... That you would like to see her dead. Didn't you express that?" You didn't care what Frank thought of you anymore, you weren't going to snitch on your boyfriend and lose him. Frank reeled back and proceeded to attempt to swing a punch at you, only for Ignacio to grab his arm and flip him onto the floor. He took a switchblade out of his pocket and held it to Frank's throat.

"You know quite a lot there, Frank. I ought to slice your neck open right here and now. Not only do you know too much, but you tried to hurt an ally. So, tell me, what resources did you get your knowledge from and who told you?" You watched in utter shock as Ignacio interrogated Frank, to which Frank out of fear, gave Ignacio the information he needed. Ignacio then let him go. "I want you to stay out of our business. And stay away if you know what's good for you." Frank nodded, shakily grabbing his book and running away from you and Ignacio as fast as he could. Ignacio watched to make sure he left and turned to you.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that y/n, but I can't let something like that slide. Is it true what Frank said? That you're friends with a cult member? And did you really kill his mother?" Ignacio put a hand on your shoulder to comfort you, his mood seemingly switching in an instant.

"Yeah, that part is true. And I didn't kill his mum. I know who did it. But I refuse to say who it is." You tell Ignacio in a sort of saddened tone. Ignacio nods in understanding.

"And you don't have to. We have that figured out now anyways, which is why the he hasn't been arrested or caught." Knowing that information comforted you a bit, while also unsettling you at the same time. What else did Iggy know? You shook off that thought.

-----------------

You arrived at your house to find the cult flyer pinned to your door, with a note behind it. It was inviting you and Bob to join, which they also noted for you to think about. You found that part to make a little sense. You know from Brae that the cult likes having dedicated and competent members, which seemed fair to you. Turns out Bob must've gotten a note too because you could hear him creeping up behind you. You swiftly face him, to which he pouts and folds his arms like a child.

"Party pooper." He grumbles at you, you just giggle at him and give him a peck on the cheek. He sees the flyer in your hand. "So y'got the flyer too huh?"

"Yep. What do you think we should do?" Bob thinks for a moment, but he couldn't think of anything.

"I dunno, think about it I guess?" He shrugs, almost resembling that old guy from the 'guess I'll die meme' (A/N: I am so funny 🤭 /sar).

"Yeah, probably. But think about it Bob, you won't have to worry much about getting caught, or dying. And I won't have to worry either. It can mean sound of mind for the both of us." Bob hums in agreemnet.

"True, true. Spending a peaceful, death-free life with ya sounds nice." He brings his hand up to his chin thoughtfully as he just casually says this, unaware that you looked as if you were one of the main cast in VeggieTales. A life? With Bob?... I mean-, oh god no DON'T DO THAT BRAIN GET THAT SCENARIO OUT OF MY HEAD- your thoughts were all over the place.

"You right there darl?" Bob's voice snaps you out of your thoughts.

"Huh- Oh uh- Yeah, I'm fine. Just- I think a life with you sounds nice too..." Your voice trails off as you look everyhwere but at Bob. He smiles at you lovingly, watching you as you stare at the floor, seeming to be kicking the pavement cracks with your foot. He offers his hands out to you and you take them, still not looking up. Bob gently pulls you close and frees one of his hands to get you to look at him.

"Y/n, whatever decision we make together, know that I'll always be by your side. I love ya darlin', joinin' the cult won't change that and neither will refusin' to join. Don't forget that." Bob speaks to you in a soft and soothing tone, his words melted your heart right then and there. You could've sworn that if it weren't for gravity and for Bob holding your hands, you'd be rocketing to the moon and back.

"I love you too. And I'll be by your side as well, with whatever decision we make." You and Bob's foreheads touch as you both lean closer, pulling each other into an embrace.

But far in the distance, behind some trees, a red-cloaked figure observed you both from afar.

Chapter Text

You and Bob stood at the gates of what seemed to be an old mansion, the half moon illuminating the fog around you two. You both exchanged uneasy looks, this was the address that your notes led you both to, but you didn't expect this. Before Bob could speak, the gates opened with a loud squeal which made you both practically jump out of your skin. A figure made their way towards you two, holding an oil lamp which revealed them to be wearing a red hooded cloak that completely shrouded their face, the many black spots on the hood made you feel uneasy. The cloaked figure stood at the gate, holding out their free hand for your notes, which you and Bob gave them. They turned and beckoned you to follow them, which you both obeyed and trudged behind them. Neither you or Bob dared to utter a sound, not even when you finally entered the main lobby of the mansion.

The main lobby was musky and dark, illuminated by dim candlelight which revealed red tapestries and rugs. There was a bifurcated stairway that connected to a mezzanine balcony, which wrapped around the room. On the balcony, many cloaked figures stood and watched you and Bob from behind the railing, the eery silence made your skin crawl. The figure that led you both inside took you both up the stairs and onto the right side of the balcony, where a hallway faced the staircase. The figure stopped at the end of the hallway where a large door stood, and knocked on it twice. The door slowly opened, revealing a large office with bookcases lining the walls. In the centre was a desk, where a man sat, his elbows resting on the surface and his fingers laced together. He glared at you and Bob with his unnaturally bright cyan eyes. He had dark black hair tied into a bun, and some form of a prosthetic mask covered the left side of his face. The man beckoned you and Bob to stand before him as the door closed behind you with a slam. You both stood infront of the man, your hands behind your backs. The silence was practically deafening as the man glared at the both of you.

"I'm elated that you both have finally decided to join us, we have been observing you for quite some time." The man's voice was low and hypnotic, it also sounded like a second, much raspier voice echoed behind. You and Bob exchanged baffled glances. The man stood up from his seat, chuckling quietly in amusement. "Oh don't worry, we haven't observed your personal moments." He added with an amused wink in an attempt to lighten the mood. The joke didn't land, sadly, as both you and Bob just stared at him perplexed. The man cleared his throat to break the awkward silence. "Anyways... I am Nero Ambrosios, the leader of this... well... I guess you could call this an organisation or religion. My family have been upholding the will of the Eyes for many generations, and on behalf of them, we welcome you two with open arms." Nero declared in a rhapsodic tone, moving his hands about to match his emotions and words. You and Bob each shook his hands vigorously.

For the next hour, Nero gave you both a tour of the mansion. He explained the schedule of the group, what times they'd usually meet and some of the customs of the establishment. He then showed you both to the living quarters.

"Now this is mainly where the mansion staff and the newcomers stay. Until the next full moon, it is customary for newcomers to stay here so you're prepared for your initiation. I have some business to attend to, so feel free to choose an available suite and make yourselves at home. If you have any trouble or need assistance, there are servants here to help. Goodbye for now!" Nero rushed off, leaving you and Bob alone.

"That was... a lot to take in." You breathed. Bob grunted in response.

"Eh, Nero seems like a nice guy nonetheless, a lil' humourous too. 'Tis a breath of fresh air from what we've been dealin' with anyways." You and Bob walked around the living quarters, before coming across an available suite. You both paused. "Would ya like a suite to yerself darlin'? Or do ya want me with you?"

"Honestly I'd feel safer with you, if that's alright." Bob smiled softly at you, wrapping an arm around your shoulder.

"Ofcourse, I don't mind." He beamed as you both entered the room, closing the door behind you. The room was prelit with wall lanterns, giving it a soft, warm feeling. There was a large bed with soft quilting and pillows, the bedside tables had oil lamps on them and one of the tables had a box of matches. Other than that there was a closet, other forms of storage, and painted depictions of eldritch beings on the walls. The room had a theme of red, gold, and brown like the other rooms and there seemed to be a bathroom connected to the room too. You plopped down on the bed, groaning in exhaustion from the amount of walking you had to do. Bob on the other hand inspected the paintings on the walls, his hand placed on his chin like he was deep in thought. You snuck up behind him and wrapped your arms around his waist, burying your face into his back with a sigh. Bob turned around and pulled you into an embrace, smiling while he closes his eyes and rests his chin on your head (A/N: if you're short he lifts you up).

"We should prolly get some sleep hun." Bob said to you quietly after a long moment of silence. You groaned in agreement and let go of him so you could climb into bed, burying yourself under the covers while Bob put out the lanterns. He got under the covers and wrapped his arm around you from behind, using his other arm to act as a pillow for you.

"G'nigh' darlin', I love you." Bob yawned, giving the back of your neck a tender kiss. You changed your position so that you were facing him, giving him a kiss on the cheek with a sigh. "I love you too, sweet dreams."

Chapter Text

Throughout the past week, you and Bob began to grow a dependency on the cult. The schedule leading up to the initiation was strict, dictating when you both could and couldn't sleep, eat or go outside. You and Bob were reassured that once the initiation was done, you'd have more free will. That's a lie.

You both got to attend a few meetings, but you mostly acted as workers more than anything. You cleaned the place, you ran errands for Nero and assisted Lucius with his studies. While Bob saw this as earning his place, you saw differently. You felt like you were a house maid, which wasn't what you had in mind when you joined. You honestly thought you'd be involved in sermons and rituals, but here you are tending to an injured Lucius. Lucius had sprained his ankle on the stairs, and when you found him, Nero was grilling into Lucius for crying and for being 'weak'. You were going to say something in that moment, but the look in Lucius' eyes when he looked at you told you that you wouldn't want to do that. So you stood there, watched as Nero stormed off, and helped Lucius walk to the kitchen.

"Don't take your dad's words to heart Lu, trust me, crying doesn't make you 'weak'. It's a normal reaction to pain." You reassured Lucius while you slipped a compression sleeve onto his ankle. Lucius winced in pain, drawing in a sharp breath. You let go of his ankle, gently setting it on top of a barstool that was near you both. "That should help. Remember to keep it elevated for a while. In a few days you'll be walking pain-free again." Lucius nodded in response.

"Thank you y/n. I'll be able to make my way from here. In the meantime, until lunch, you can rest." Lucius waved you away, a gentle and caring look on his face. You went to your suite and snuggled under the bed covers, exhausted and deprived of sleep. You closed your eyes and took a nap.

----------------

"y/n... darlin'..." You wake up with a groan and turn your head to find that Bob was the one who woke you up. He cups your cheek in in his hand and smiles softly. "Heya hun. How'd ya sleep?" In reply you close your eyes and hug the pillow, he chuckles in reply and lays beside you, stroking your cheekbone with his thumb. After a while, you finally gather the words to speak.

"I had a nightmare." Was all you could say. Bob removes his hand from your cheek and adjusts his body so that he's leaning on his elbow. He looked worried and concerned, but listened to you intently. "It was about my father. I haven't really- I haven't really had a nightmare about him in years. I don't know why either- I-" There was a moment of silence while you tried to gain your composure. "I don't understand, why won't he leave me alone?" You choke up with those last words, trying so desperately to stop any tears from escaping. You rub your eyes. "Sorry-"

"You don't need to apologize hun, I'm here for ya m'kay?" Your lover wipes a stray tear off your face gently. You smile and lean into Bob's touch, giving the palm of his hand a gentle kiss.

"Thank you, love. And don't worry, I know how to deal with this type of stuff. It's just that this felt unexpected." You shuffle your body and cuddle against Bob, he wraps his arms around you, giving your forehead a tender kiss. Both of you lay there in silence for a while, focused on nothing else but each other. Minutes went by while you listened to Bob's heartbeat. It soothed you and calmed you down, and the anxiety washed away. You've always enjoyed Bob's company, you found he often helped you with your PTSD and anxiety (without knowing), and he was one of the very few men out there you truly felt safe around.

You lift your head up to look at Bob. His eyes were closed and he looked at peace. He slowly opened his eyes to meet yours and slightly smiled. You gazed into each other's eyes for a moment.

"Bob."

"Hm?"

"... Can I kiss you?"

"... Yes."

You leaned forward and pressed your lips against his, resting your hand on his cheek and closing your eyes. You felt Bob rest a hand on your waist and adjusting himself so your head rested on his arm. Your hearts were beating rapidly and you felt butterflies in your stomach. You both parted and rested your foreheads together, eyes closed. You gave him a peck on the lips nuzzled into his neck. Bob encased you in his arms, using a hand to play with your hair.

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