~~~~~~~~~Third Person POV~~~~~~~~~

"(y/n)..?!" Her eyes widened at the familiar voice that called out her name, turning around to see the tall blonde demon she had spent weeks with the time she's been in this town.

Making the iron bars and the golden chain disappear from her ankle, he kneeled down in front of her. "Are you okay? Is there anything I need to heal?"

She stared at him for a short while. No words, no reaction, just a wide-eyed stare as her body began o tremble. Bill was about to speak again when she suddenly threw her arms around him in a tight hug, and began to sob into his shoulder, completely catching him off guard.

There was no reason for her to still care over the monster that betrayed her, who had been lying to her for so many weeks, who said the time they spent together was meaningless.

Yet she couldn't pull away from the hug.

She didn't want to.

She only cried, gripping the back of his shirt for dear life, feeling as if she'd die straight away if she let go. She didn't want to let go, she didn't want him to let her go.

Bill was frozen in place for a while, unsure of what to do or how to react. But soon enough, he wrapped his arms around the girl, resting his head on hers and keeping a string grip around her, hearing her sobs echo throughout the hall.

They spent a few minutes in each other's arms, holding on to the other, even as other noises would randomly be heard. The demon then loosened his grip, though only a little, the pain from before increasing with every second.

"(y/n), I- ... I'm sorry..."

"H-huh...?"

"I'm sorry... for everything... You don't deserve any of this, and now you're suffering because of me..."

She didn't reply, not right away, soon looking up at him. Tears still streamed down her face, but her expression had grown far more serious. "Then why did you do all this...?"

"... I..." He bit his lip, not sure how to answer the question, but soon after, he let out a heavy sigh. "I just... wanted to feel something..."

"What...?"

"The last time I felt something that wasn't emptiness was when Isabella turned against me, and that almost seven hundred human years ago, and much longer for me... Ever since that day, I've only felt an empty hole in my chest, nothing more, nothing less... So I thought if I caused more chaos, some revenge for last year, I'd feel anger, or- or regret..."

"... what do you feel now...?"

"Regret, but not for the town..." He looked back at her, tears finally escaping his eyes. "I feel regret for hurting you... It hurts more than anything I've ever felt before... I-I know what I've done is unforgivable, so I don't blame you if...-"

His words were stopped when she pressed her lips against his, his cheeks growing pink at the action, and more tears fell down his face, staring down in shock. She then pulled away, sniffling before speaking.

"S-so everything that happened between us was real, right...? It w-wasn't just you a-acting...?"

"No... I grew to care for you without realizing it..."

"Then... I forgive you.."

There was a smile on her face this town, the same one he grew to know, the one he grew to love.. It was kind, gentle, genuine..

He smiled as well, and placed a kiss on her head. "I'm glad you're okay..."

"Feeling's mutual..."

Another hug was shared, both of them much more relaxed; for a moment, even if just a second, all the pain had disappeared. They were okay, they were.. happy..

Yeah, truly happy..

However, she had to cut the moment short, her eyes widening as she took in a sharp gasp. "My siblings, are they okay?! I was going to find them, but-!"

"They're okay, they came here with me to find you.."

"You left them on their own?!?"

"Relax, (f/g), they're far more capable than you think." He gently picked her up in a bridal style, her cheeks growing pink. "We should find them though, they've been worried sick about you."

"Okay.."

He continued to walk through the endless maze with the human in his arms, who rested her head against his chest; the sound of his heartbeat became a peaceful melody to her, smiling at the sound.

"... hey TopHat..?"

"Yeah..?"

She leaned up, placing a kiss on his cheek, which made him freeze up a bit. She simply smiled.

"I'm really glad I met you..."

His cheeks darkened at her words, and he smiled back. "Me too..."

Thanks for reading!!! 'Till next time!!!

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