Arthur woke in a very soft bed, surrounded by magenta and black and soft, warm blankets. His first instinct was to start asking where he was but he was struck with realization that they were probably already at the mansion.

Another thing that struck his curiosity was a ghost laying beside him, tall, buff, and familair. Lewis Pepper was beside him, resting with his eyes closed and arms folded behind his head. He was still, breathing and calm, and handsome~. Arthur couldn't help but stare in a sleep influenced confidence at the male laying in the same bed as him just calmly displayed for anyone's eyes to gander and swallow and mentally undress.

"You look nice." Arthur sleepily grumbled, rubbing his eyes before processing what he had just said and blushed.

"So he wakes from the sleeping world hm? You do know I'm only dressed in pajamas." Lewis purred softly, turning over and regarding him with a single opened eye.

"M-mhm. Sorry, just woke." Arthur tried using as an excuse, but knew with confidence that Lewis didn't accept it.

"Sure. Feeling any better? You seemed to have slept well for once. No nightmares?" Lewis asked with a twinge of worry.

"None surprisingly. It's nice waking up without being sweaty and panicked." Arthur hummed and got more comfortable. "When. Did we get here?"

"Ten hours ago. It's already night time. Vivi just went to bed, so it's just you and me. Mystery is outside pacing around the perimeter. We are gonna be here for a few weeks."  Lewis informed.

"Your mansion is kinda cool anyways. Maybe this time I can enjoy it without being chased." Arthur chuckled softly.

"Hn, maybe~." Lewis purred, feeling a need bubble in his chest the more he stared the blonde down, his gaze turning more and more hungry. "I'll probably chase you still, however. It's gonna be hard to resist watching you run, I'd get a decent backside view." Lewis flirted bluntly.

Arthur went beat red and proceeded to stammer, and wiggle under the blanket, hiding from the thirsty ghost in gay panic, trying not to get heated from that, forcing his mind and body to both calm themselves.

Lewis hummed and moved under the blanket smoothly and found the man hiding inside. Arthur grew a dark shade of red and Lewis couldn't help but feel giddy about it. Lewis moved closer until he gracefully slid over the blonde.

"Captured." Lewis purred.

"A-A-Am I?" Arthur whispered, his hands immediately finding Lewis's chest to push on it to try to get some space, failing of course as the ghost loved closer, their noses brushing.

"Yep, a good kinda captured though." Lewis purred.

"L-Lewis..." Arthur frowned softly. "I-I-"

"I want to." Lewis suddenly spoke. "I know you want too. Let me, please?" Lewis leaned closer, their lips grazing one another gently.

Arthur shuddered under the man, and his concrete will caved as he leaned up just enough and connected their lips together. Arthur slowly slid his hands around the other's neck, them trembling, as if afraid he'd somehow hurt him. Lewis on the other hand, wasn't afraid of that, he merely wanted to make Arthur and himself happy again, the way it was supposed to happen when he was still breathing. Before Vivi got into the picture.

Lewis held himself up with is elbows and knees, his hands cupping the other's face with a tender hold, doing his best to display the fact he wasn't doing this to hurt him, but to love him. To be soft and kind with him, to show him affection.

Lewis wanted this...

He wanted to get revenge on that green demon squirming about both outside and in Arthur's brain. He wanted to free Arthur Kingsman from his literal demons, and he wanted to make it his goal to give Arthur a happy life.

Just let me...

He wanted to hold his hand, and he wanted Arthur to hold his heart.

Just let me...

He wanted to show Arthur the world, travel with him and the gang around the countries and see all the world's sights there was to see. He wanted to give him a happy and adventurous life. Away from danger and away from fear.

Let me...

He wanted to love him.

Let me...

He wanted to show him that there was no need to be so negative anymore.

Please let me...

He wanted to be the one to sweep Arthur off his feet, and to finally tear every bit of sadness from that pain riddled heart. One that probably suffers because of that green thing, and because of him as well.

Let me fall for you.

The kiss broke and it left Arthur panting for air, living fingers ghosting over his lips as he stared up at the ghost in awe. His heart was doing backflips and his stomach was twisting and knotting in a way that left him nauseous.

Did he really want this?

Did Lewis Pepper, a life long friend, literally on his part, want this for him? Did Lewis want this truly? He went from wanting him dead, to wanting to be his lover. How crazy was that...

Do you really want me...someone so inferior and weak. Not nearly as handsome and loving. The man I killed wants to love me.

How crazy does that sound...

A-And I-I-

"You two really bore me. It's disgusting!"

Arthur winced then and grabbed his left eye, sighing as he let it go, noticing Lewis's immediate hostility and defensiveness and worry as he yanked the blankets off them, sitting the two up.

"Are you okay?" Lewis asked in immense stress.

"Fine as I can be." Arthur mumbled. "I'm surprised he isn't more active...it's really quiet compared to how it's been."

"Probably because of the barrier me and Vivi made around my place. Me and Mystery can no longer leave for the next month, so we are gonna live here for that long I guess, which isn't bad. Vivi told Lance about it and told him to stay away, without going into details for your sake, just saying we got a new case." Lewis explained.

"Alright. So long as he isn't worrying." Arthur deflated against the bed, eyes traveling upwards towards the ceiling.

He wondered why, of all people, did his life have to have this craziness. Maybe some higher force just wanted a laugh out of this, or maybe something else entirely. He didn't know nor did he really want to if it meant something terrible. All he wanted was for something good to finally happen, and stay. A permanent change for the better.

His life wasn't a bad one. Not by a long shot. Infact, he had it easy compared to a lot of people. A loving and supportive family member, loving and supportive friends, a good paying job. He went to school, graduated and chose to remain from college. He had an adorable pet, and was blessed with an incredible talent that gave him his metal arm.

Arthur knew he had a better life, the positives had to outweigh the bad, right?

Every kid gets bullied, physically and verbally. Every person gets judged by how the dress, who they are and what they look like. A lot of people hide their sexual interests from the world. And a lot of people have tragedy in their lives. People die... accidents happen. Fucked up shit happens daily.

People have been through worse than he has, so he shouldn't be sulking should he? He was living good.

He...he had no right to...

No...he did. He did have the right to call himself selfish.

He had that right. Arthur complains on the daily, he always gripes and freaks out and cowards about every time something bad occurs, he acts like he matters more but, he matters less. Just because he was missing an arm and could build doesn't mean he was special by any right.

He wasn't as important as Lewis or Vivi.

Vivi was a descendant of a very cunning warrior, who died bravely in battle. Lewis was a foster child, who was now a ghost, killed by a friend possessed by a demon, and Mystery, well, was a fucking Kitsune for lord's sake! Arthur...?

He was just...Arthur Kingsman...a young adult male who drinks, and smokes, works at a family business fixing cars at some isolated car shop along a highway, with a handicapped hamster with a good ass name.

"You look very focused." Lewis suddenly chimed, ripping Arthur from his endless thoughts.

"Y-yeah, sorry I kinda zoned out for a sec didn't I?" Arthur chuckled, feeling his face heat up from embarrassment. "Sorry for that."

"Don't apologise dude. Your fine." Lewis shrugged, flopping down beside the blonde. "You're a good kisser you know, practicing with a pillow pays off huh~?" Lewis smirked and wiggled his eyebrows.

Arthur flamed and yelled in momentary surprise before stammering and tripping over his words, coughing into his hand before righting himself. "I'VE NEVER!" Arthur snarled and whacked Lewis's arm.

"Ouch! Damn you hit hard! Hehe." Lewis winced, due to the fact Arthur was much stronger than he looked. "I was only joking. But, wait, why are you so red? Pfft! Oh wait! Do you ACTUALLY!" Lewis wheezed.

"Shut up before I break something." Arthur hissed and covered his face with a pillow.

"HA! Awesome!" Lewis giggled and tore the pillow away. "You make it so easy for me to pick on you. It's literally irresistible." Lewis hummed, his cheeks dusted with a faint pink hue.

"Whatever mama spice." Arthur huffed and sat up, cracking his back, slouching as he stared at his bag sitting in the corner of the very large and very pink room.

The bed was a king sized bed, a canopy bed at that. Fancy curtains pulled back to allow his gaze to stretch to all the corners of the room, which was about as big as their living and dining room. The floor had a nice rug to it, with chairs and a coffee table at the center. There were wardrobes dawning lama printed clothes, and regular shirts and jeans, and some orange and yellow clothes as well, obviously Lewis had put the clothes up already. There was a dresser and even a vanity mirror against the wall, and a large set of doors leading into a bathroom.

The wall decorations were also interesting, as where he had expected Vivi selfies to be hanging were actually pictures of him and Lewis, and even just him alone, smiling or talking.

Flattering.

"Everything seems to be in here." Arthur mused. "This is very fancy though, judging by the clothes w-we are uh, sharing a room?" Arthur felt his heart doing another backflip.

"Of course. I'm keeping a close eye on you. And your behaviors." Lewis hummed.

"Bet you're enjoying that." Arthur hummed, looking over to see Lewis was now standing, and smiling with content.

"Very much so~." Lewis chimed.

Arthur nodded and looked back across the room, though, when he did everything went light, and unstable, as if the world became light, and his head spun around like he were spinning in circles at a high speed, causing the world to blur, and objects to double.

Arthur let out a soft noise as he felt momentarily weightless, and numb, no feeling coming to his legs and resulting in them giving out. Lewis was of course there to catch him in a sudden panic, as the blonde looked suddenly high.

"Arthur!? Hey are you okay!? What's wrong!?"  Lewis panicked, shaking him a bit.

Arthur stared through Lewis, for a moment before everything came rushing back in a loud wave of sound. His eyes narrowed and he looked up at him.

"Am I on the floor?" Arthur questioned.

"Yes! You just collapsed! That's it, you're laying back down." Lewis growled and full on picked the other up bridal styled, shocking the blonde.

"Hey! I'm fine! Put me down now!" Arthur squirmed harshly, making Lewis drop him, though, he landed it and shot back up, folding his arms. "I'm fine, you worrywart. Just had a moment."

"Are you gonna have one walking down the stairs? Or showering!?" Lewis asked, tone very hostile.

"Maybe. But I know ya won't let me get hurt." Arthur hummed and patted his shoulder before walking to the door. "EEP!" Arthur yelped as a deadbeat materialized in front of it, evil looking and angry.

"You aren't leaving this room until I can get your issue resolved. Luckily, we found a probable solution, however, it's painful." Lewis grunted out as his deadbeat guarded the door with a very cute and angry face.

"Of course. Everything has to be just painful. Why am I not surprised..." Arthur grumbled to himself. "At this point I'm a pain magnet. So, what's this maybe solution?" Arthur turned to face Lewis, tense and unhappy.

"You are going to drink holy water." Lewis hummed.

"..." Arthur blinked a few times, before feeling a foreign emotion of restlessness, making him tense and feel fearful. "H-holy water!?" He gripped his gut. "S-seriously!? I-I have a demon man! That shit is gonna fucking kill me!"

"It's either that or option B." Lewis spoke seriously, his face going grim.

"W-What's worse than th-that...?" Arthur whispered, inching closer to Lewis.

"I'll have to possess you and devour what's left of that demon, and steal yes essence and power. But, it could also seriously harm you physically...worse than the holy water." Lewis informed.

Arthur felt the wind get knocked out of him. He stumbled away from Lewis and into a far wall, shaking as the very thought of possession brought up intense emotions he kept deep down, tears instantly coming to his eyes.

"N-no you're NOT!" Arthur snarled.

"If the water doesn't work. I'm going to have to...it's the only two options we have." Lewis sighed. "A month from now if the holy water fails. I'm going to have to...I know..I don't want to do it either..." Lewis tensed, gripping his arms and looking away with a disturbed face.

He could tell by Arthur's expression that he probably has some form of PTSD. He knew Arthur would hate it and seeing that violent reaction, the violent explosion of emotion he just displayed broke his heart. He didn't want to do it, Lewis didn't even feel comfortable. But it was going to be his very last resort whether they liked it or not.

Arthur looked down at his metal arm, eyes glossy and nervous. He could almost remember the feeling of half his body being possessed. A terrible burn that rippled and moved his body on its own, half of his mind belonging to something else, creating immense Hysteria and loss of control and rational thought. Numbing.

"I miss the feeling~!"

Arthur winced at his foreign thought and shook his head, sinking down on the floor. He felt cornered, he didn't want to do either, but knew he needed to get the green thing out. The Holy Water was his only hope, because he would never allow himself to be possessed again. He hated it, absolutely hated it, it caused him to kill the man standing in the same room.

And that very man was going to have to possess him?

Hell no.

The only good factor about this situation was the barrier they made outside. Salt and holy water was a very good defense. Nothing could get in, not even an arm. Which was a nice start. He just hoped that they could handle something so vile and disgusting.

"I'm sorry about the second choice. We don't get any other options. I'll only do it if I have to. The last thing I want is for you to be hurt or upset." Lewis whispered.

Arthur blushed as he was torn from his thoughts with Lewis's concerning and caring voice. Arthur then thought of Vivi, and tensed, his world spiraling in a mass of confusion. He loved Lewis Pepper, always have, but Lewis just recently started to like him back, with his girlfriend nearby suffering from amnesia. This was wrong.

But he wanted it.

Lewis wanted it. But it was so wrong.

Why was life so...so...

"Life never shows mercy to the likes of anyone. Consider our future meeting your karma~! You selfish pig."

"It's okay..." Arthur whispered, gripping his knees, shaking. "She won't...mind..."

"She will once she wakes up, truly wakes up to remember how you shoved him, wakes to remember the blood and screaming and your deafening laughter. Poor thing, her heart's gonna shatter. People die from broken hearts you know~! Maybe this will kill her!"

"..." Arthur growled angrily and covered his left eye with his metal hand.

"Ignore it." Lewis whispered.

Fire...

Arthur felt a fire built in his brain, and for a moment, lost his ability to control his mouth.

"I can't wait to watch her hurt~!" Arthur purred, his face going pale and eyes bugging, his normal hand slapping over his lips tightly. "Mmph!!" Arthur shrieked into his hand.

Lewis flinched violently at those words, momentarily getting pissed before realizing that wasn't him. Lewis tensed, staring Arthur down with a look of anger, stress and fear. He could only imagine the horror of having his body move on its own. Manipulated by something hostile and evil.

"W-w-wasn't me..." Arthur weakly whispered, tearing up some more.

"I know. It wasn't your fault.", Lewis sighed and sat beside Arthur.

Arthur quickly moved away and stood, gripping his metal arm and shaking his head, wincing, pained.

Fearful.

"No...d-don't sit so close please. Just--" Arthur began, but paused, gritting his teeth. "Stay away from me until she gives me the holy water. Or I'll end up doing or saying something worse."

"Artie you know I know it's not you. You don't have to continuously keep yourself lonely because of it. That's what it wants." Lewis stood, going to follow him.

"ITS WHAT I WANT!" Arthur shouted, stomping his foot and gaining a yelp and a flinch from Lewis. "YOU! DON'T UNDERSTAND! I-I'm dangerous! You can be patient and wait a couple hours to talk to me! You were alone for two years you can WAIT a couple more hours!!!"

Lewis felt hurt and angered by that sentence watching as he ran to the bathroom and slammed the door, locking it with a click.

Lewis's human form melted in a fiery blaze, and his skeleton face contorted into an angry one, flames erupting off of his back and head. He gripped his shoulders to try and tame his ghostly rage, but nearly failed.

He knew Arthur probably said that to make Lewis stay put, but it still pissed him off to speak to him with such insensitivity.

Lewis felt the comfort of his deadbeats that burst from his locket. He growled angrily and free in deep breaths, trying to regain his sanity as it was spiraling away from him, a blind rage nearly occuring. But he managed to calm himself down, fire fizzling out into smoke steaming off his bones.

"Fuck..." Lewis whispered his groan, feeling hurt. "Damnit Arthur...stop being such a hard ass and let people help."