(Palette)

The next three days were absolute torture for me. I could do nothing to help Goth while the professor and Raven worked on the machine, and while they kept me updated on progress I still felt useless. I found myself sitting on the couch, staring at nothing, thinking of Goth's fearful voice as the thunderstorm started. If only I'd chosen a shorter path... Trying to remember his smile just as his terrified screaming ran through my head, along with the rushing rain and pounding thunder. Why didn't I just turn around when we saw the clouds?

And while I never blamed him, it was hard to see Ghost around the cabin without longing for Goth. Sometimes I would forget that Goth was gone, whenever I saw Ghost sleeping, relaxed, or even giving me soft smiles.

But my longing made my temper shorter. I'd lash out over the phone to Raven or the professor and Ghost would flinch. If I was still snappish afterward, he'd avoid me and do something. I tried not to snap at him, but sometimes it couldn't be avoided.

Ghost was also much timider and quiet than Goth was. I put a lot of it up to Goth's mood swings and general pregnancy, of which Ghost still knew nothing about, so it was odd. This Ghost acted a lot more like the boy I knew before we started dating, the Goth who was afraid of me that also had a crush on me. I would catch him watching me as Goth used to, and sometimes I'd smirk out of habit if he noticed I caught him.

Ghost did a lot of chores without being asked, habits no doubt enforced by Rurik in his world. If I tried to help him he'd shove me off. After a few tries, I gave up trying to help him and just let him do his thing.

I let him use the bed so he could have some privacy. Plus, I couldn't stand sleeping in there alone without Goth's comforting presence next to me.

Every night I thanked the stars it wasn't heat season. I doubted I could restrain myself from his familiar form if I came into heat, without running through the woods to avoid him.

I slept restlessly and Ghost often forced me to rest during the day. I was too tired to fight him every time. Thus, bringing me back to my morose form on the couch all day and night.

I groaned, rolling my head back.

"Ugh, why is this so damn hard?!" I nearly shouted. I heard a small squeak and something fall to the floor. I turned around to see Ghost bending down to pick up a dropped bowl.

"Shit, sorry, Ghost," I said, getting up. He glanced up, waving me down.

"No, it's fine, it's fine, Ru-Palette," he gulped. He stood up, his hands trembling as he held the bowl, "Y-you just scared me, is all..."

He stood there, trembling, looking at the floor. I got up and walked over to him. As I approached him, I noticed little red tears fall down to the floor. Ghost tried his best to hide it, but as I grew closer he let out a sob.

"I'm sorry, Ghost, I didn't mean-" I began but he shook his head.

"Stop being so damn apologetic!" he snapped, sobbing freely now, "Stop being so nice to me! I don't deserve your kindness! It isn't natural!"

I froze. This is the first outburst he's had since he's been here.

"D-don't you understand th-that this is hard for me, too?" he hugged himself, turning his body away from me, "Sure, the first while it was a relief not to be snapped at or punished or anything. But I- ahh, I miss Rurik."

I stood there, frozen in silence. I had no clue what was going on in his mind.

"He might've been a bit of a control freak but he loved me," Ghost went on, wiping his face, "It's h-hard to sleep without him. He k-kept the nightmares at bay. And-and we would be so intimate so often... I miss his touch, his caress, his whispers. Hell, I miss his complete control over me. With a touch or even a whisper I would be his, and it... it made me happy. We got by, we survived, but we always did it together. We went into danger, together."

He laughed a bit, "Gods, I even miss that stupid nickname now... He might've used it to annoy me but at least it meant I was his, and no one else's."

Ghost sighed heavily, still staring at the floor. All I could do was stand silent and still. I wanted to help him, but I didn't know how. Not without cheating on Goth...

I stared at the floor as well, wishing I knew more about how to help people. I heard a grunt and looked up to see Ghost glaring at me.

"What?" I asked him and he grunted again.

"Quit being so damn morose," he said roughly, "This weird soft fluffy nonsense from you isn't natural. I doubt your Goth wants you to be this soft."

That stung a bit, and I don't know why.

"H-how do I..." I trailed away, unsure of where the thought was leading.

"How do you be your normal self and still love Goth?" Ghost answered for me. I nodded.

"Well, for one thing, you need to learn where his soft spots are," Ghost started.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for starters, learn what spots make him relax," Ghost said, "Then learn what spots make him moan, which ones make him drool, which ones that make him scream."

"Scr-scream?! But I d-don't wanna hurt him!" I backed away a bit, shaking my head at the thought. Ghost rolled his eyes and grabbed my face, looking me in the eye.

"Not scream in pain, dummy," he said, "scream in pleasure. I'm sure you've stumbled upon a few places, but I don't think you know all of them, nor do I think you know how to manipulate them."

I swallowed, unsure of how to respond. His face was now really close to mine...

"For example," Ghost grabbed one of my hands and placed my fingers on either side of his topmost vertebra, "Pinch it, lightly, between your fingers."

Swallowing again, I did as I was told. I gently pinched the bone and Ghost closed his eyes, smiling softly. "Now, rub it gently with those same fingers while pinching," he said, and I added the asked for pressure. He moaned softly and fell into my arms. I caught him, surprised, and he looked up at me.

"S-see? Just learn his soft spots..." he said, slightly breathless, "That one... will calm him down..."

He regained his feet, smiling up at me, "And in a pinch, do that to the vertebra below it, only harder. He'll go completely limp for at least five minutes."

"Once you learn those soft spots, exploit them," Ghost said easily, standing straight, "Use them to your advantage, tease him every now and then. Lead him on for a bit before backing off, then reward him."

"Y-you're saying that I... should tease him?" Ghost nodded.

"Believe it or not, we quite enjoy it," he said with a half shrug, "It's part of the reason we fell for you. That and your persistence, relentlessness, not to mention you're so damn hot..."

"Okay, I get it," I blushed a bit and he smiled.

"Good. Now, quit being such a damn softie and get yourself together before we get your Goth back," Ghost turned to finish whatever he started, "Take a walk or something."

---

(It's short but whatever)

(Poor Palette....)

(*smirks evilly* how long will he last...any guesses?)