I've added a song to this that I suggest ALL OF YOU listen to (!!!!), but perhaps after this chapter bc this chapter will require you to listen to different music.

https://youtu.be/w7tDM2pd2rI

* = substituted words. protecting your eyes and all ;) 

"Hush, and shush. For the Beldam might be listening..." ))

"H-Oof!" Scott had the wind knocked out of him as Vincent practically threw him off him and onto the floor.

 "Alright," Vincent snarled menacingly, "That's it! I've had enough of you. You got us into this mother fu-"

"Shh," Scott rasped, weakly pushing himself up onto his hands and knees, "Pl-ease," - oh God, had Vincent actually seriously hurt him? He could barely breathe. "Be-"

"Oh, what? You're worried about my language now? " Vincent's eyes were blaring in the dark, sweeping the room, narrow and scathing, "I don't even know where the frick* we are, and thanks to you, I'm probably going to die here. God, I at least hope they murder you first." 

Ow. Vincent's words cut lacerations into Scott's skin. A sickly warm feeling spread through his body, almost as though his blood was really trickling down his arms, onto the tiled floor. But it was quickly replaced, the blood freezing and terror gripping him. A metallic, almost silent ditty started up somewhere in the distance. He shook his head fervently, drawing a hand across his neck and putting a finger to his lips.

"No. You're not getting out of this by pretending to be frightened, Scott," Vincent growled, "You deserve every word of this. You wondered what a 'violent episode' was like? I'm about ready to show you." The end of his sentence was forced out so threateningly it was honestly more like a growl than speech. But not a decibel of it entered Scott's brain.

The little tune was getting louder. 

He leapt forwards before he really knew what he was doing, clapping a hand over Vincent's mouth and pulling him close, almost in a protective huddle. As if he thought he could protect them. 

Vincent made a muffled sound of anger, reaching up with one hand to pry Scott's fingers off his lips, "What the frick* do you think you're doing?" 

Scott turned his head as soundlessly as possible. His lips barely brushed against Vincent's ear, his words no more than a breath. "She is listening." 

Vincent might have been angry, but he wasn't an idiot. The light died from his eyes - literally -fading into a soft glow. Now that he was silent, it was clear to hear the music box. Each of its notes cut through the air, menacing and heartbreaking at the same time.

Scott closed his eyes and buried his face into Vincent's shoulder. His arms tightened around him and they waited in a forbidden embrace until the music wasted away into thin air.

Vincent let one of his hands run up Scott's side, his fingers feeling over every rib, brushing over his shoulder. "Thank you," he whispered. "I was getting irrational. I'm sorry." 

Scott smiled sadly. His arms didn't loosen from around Vincent, but his heart was heavy in his chest. "I thought you couldn't feel remorse." 

He heard Vincent's breath hitch for a second before he  replied, "...Even if I don't, I still know when I mess* up. I-I... I don't know what happened. I just- I switched into survival mode, I don't know...I didn't mean to-"

"Shh," Scott soothed, removing one arm from Vincent's back to graze his fingers over Vincent's cheekbones and jaw. With barely a rustle of denim, Scott slid himself into Vincent's lap. Their lips found each other in the dark, Scott pressing just hard enough to show that all was well - if not quite forgiven. It was not something that should have been done, in such an ominous environment, but even the thought of death didn't convince Scott to pull away when Vincent's hands found their way to his waist, a pleasant weight on his hips. 

In the dark, in such an intimate position, it would have been easy to get lost in the scent and warmth of each other. But the kiss was chaste: sweet and gentle. 

It was Vincent who pulled away, in the end, muttering a quiet, "Maybe this isn't the best place to kiss and make up." 

Scott nodded. He leaned forward, into Vincent's body, enjoying his warmth for a few moments more while he whispered, "Ballora is in this room. Remember what Baby said? Through Ballora Gallery to the breaker room. We have to go as quietly as possible. Eggs told me she is sensitive to sound. Most likely the only reason we're not already dead is that it took her a while to wake up from 8 years of sleep. If you hear her music, stop moving." 

He felt Vincent nod against him and pulled away, satisfied. His ribs were still throbbing gently, but he had no time to fret over injuries - physical or verbal. He began to edge himself slowly forwards on the tiles. 

(( This is 158 words below my limit but it's 1am and I'm honestly exhausted I'm sorry but I couldn't write for another word! Hope you enjoy anyway <3 s̶o̶r̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶l̶ ̶s̶e̶g̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶b̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶l̶o̶n̶g̶.̶ ̶

ay i can play crumbling dreams on the piano not bad eh,,,, bye.))