𝐉𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐀 ||

As the morning light filters through the curtains, a voice shatters the silence, jolting me awake. I blink groggily, scanning the room, only to find Rune perched casually at my desk, twirling his thumbs like he belongs here. 

"Good morning," He greets, his tone disarmingly casual. 

My heart skipped a beat as I process the sight before me. "Oh my god," I murmur, pinching myself in a futile attempt to wake myself up from what feels like a surreal dream. "I thought I was dreaming. Maybe I'm still dreaming? No, just going insane." My words tumble out in a rush, punctured by a sharp pinch at my arm. But the room remains stubbornly real. 

Rune cocked his head, a perplexed expression crossing his features. "You are not going insane, I'm real," he reassured me, his voice laced with uncertainty. "Wait, am I?" His index finger tapped thoughtfully against his chin as he cast a dubious glance at the ceiling. "Yeah, I think I'm real. Like, 69% sure."

I can't help but chuckle nervously at his quip, though the humor did little to dispel my bewilderment. "Did you just make a 69 joke?" I ask incredulously, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise. 

Rune blinks, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement as he approaches me. "A who to the what now?" He replies, his tone genuinely perplexed. 

"It's a dirty joke," I explain, my voice dropping to an inspirational whisper as if discussing forbidden secrets. "You know, like a sex position."

Understanding dawns on Rune's face, followed by a sheepish grin. "Oh, yeah, no, I didn't mean to," he admits, his cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment.

"You're telling me you're a demon?" I question, my voice barely above a whisper, still grappling with the surreal situation before me. Rune simply nods, his gaze drifting to a painting adorning my wall.

"Yes, ma'am, I am a demon," Rune responds, his tone oddly matter-of-fact despite the absurdity of the admission.

"You're like my very own golden retriever," I quip, attempting to diffuse the tension with a touch of humor as I rise from my bed and make my way to the closet. Rune follows, his presence a curious blend of familiarity and otherworldliness. "How long have you been watching me?" I inquired, turning to face him as I lean against the closet doorframe.

"Um, about a week I believe, well, actually, since you got here, so five days?" Rune remarks casually as I sift through my clothes, trying to process the revelation.

"Oh my god, have you been watching me get dressed?!" I whisper-yell, turning towards him with wide eyes, a mixture of shock and indignation coursing through me.

"Nope, I would never... Okay, well, maybe once, but you were still in a bra and had shorts on. By the way, that black laced bra that you have is very hot on you," Rune responds nonchalantly, his words hanging in the air like an unwanted confession. My jaw drops at his audacity, and before I can even comprehend what I'm doing, I slap him across the cheek.

"Ow, what the fuck?" Rune exclaims, rubbing his stinging cheek with a bewildered expression.

"Go have a seat in there and sit while I get dressed," I snap, my tone laced with irritation and discomfort.

"Yes, ma'am," Rune replies sheepishly, retreating to the corner of the room with a chastened look. I shake my head in disbelief, a mixture of frustration and embarrassment coursing through me.

After I get dressed in a pair of light blue shorts and a navy blue short-sleeved shirt, I walk out of my closet to see Rune leaning against the wall, watching me with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "Yeah, I can't believe you're real," I say, still trying to wrap my head around the surreal situation.

"I'm definitely real," Rune confirms, his expression earnest as he nods in agreement."Well, real or not, you're here," I mutter, my disbelief evident in my voice as I glance at him skeptically.

Rune nods, his brow furrowing slightly in thought. "Well, I think so. I mean, last time I checked, I had a body and stuff. But hey, who knows, maybe I'm just a figment of your imagination. Like a really hot imaginary friend."

I can't help but snort at his remark, hastily covering my mouth to stifle a laugh. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that," I retort, shaking my head in amusement.

Rune feigns offense, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. "Ouch, right in the demonic feels. But hey, at least I come with free entertainment and occasional existential crises," he adds with a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with humor.

"Great," I deadpanned, rolling my eyes. "So, what's the deal? You possess me, don't want to go back to hell, and now you're my unofficial roommate?"

Rune shrugs nonchalantly, a mischievous glint dancing in his golden eyes. "Something like that, think of me as your friendly neighborhood demon - here to add a little spice to your otherwise mundane existence."

I can't help but chuckle at his audacity. "Well, congratulations, you've succeeded. My life just got a whole lot weirder."

"Mission accomplished," Rune says with a grin, his charm somehow managing to be both endearing and infuriating at the same time. "Now, shall we make some trouble?"

I raise an eyebrow at his suggestion. "No, no we shall not," I reply firmly, heading towards the door to escape the bizarre turn my day has taken.

Rune leans back, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "Oh come on, live a little, you're the one always thinking about escaping and living, freeing yourself from your parents and shit."

I turn towards him, caught off guard by his sudden proximity. I find myself staring at his chest, then quickly readjust and meet his gaze with a heavy sigh. "You are using my body to escape your own life, so there are rules. There will be limited curse words used, I am a Christian after all. You will not be looking into my head or whatever and seeing my memories or my thoughts. When I'm alone is the only time I will respond to you, so keep your sarcastic remarks to yourself. And you will never watch me get dressed again. Got it?"

Rune nods, his expression shifting to a more serious one, though a glint of mischief still lingers in his golden eyes. "Yes ma'am."

I can't help but feel a strange mix of annoyance and intrigue. This demon, with his irreverent charm and undeniable presence, has barged his way into my life, disrupting the fragile balance I've managed to maintain. Yet, there's something about him that draws me in, something I can't quite put my finger on.

As I turn away, I feel Rune's gaze lingering on me, his eyes burning with a curious intensity. Despite my reservations, I can't deny the flutter of excitement in my chest. 

But I push those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. I have enough to deal with without adding a demon to the mix. With a deep breath, I head towards the door, determined to reclaim some semblance of normalcy in my suddenly chaotic life.

"Good morning honey," My mom says with a bright smile. 

"Morning mama," I say as I walk over to the coffee pot, pouring me a cup of hot coffee. 

As I take a sip of the steaming coffee, the warmth spreads through me, chasing away the last remnants of sleep. My mom's cheerful demeanor brightens the kitchen, and for a moment, everything feels normal.

"Anything planned for today?" she asks, her smile radiant.

I shake my head, setting the mug down on the countertop. "Nope, maybe go down to the creek, but that's about it."

"Well, your father is out working with the cattle," she informs me, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "We had a few babies, so he's watching them and making sure the mama cows are fine. The farmhands are with him. I will be going into town for my hair, nail, and spa appointment, so you'll be the only one home for a while."

I nod, taking in the information. It's not often that I have the house to myself, and the prospect of some quiet time is enticing. "Okay Mom, I love you," I say as she leans in to kiss the side of my head.

"Love you too, sweetheart," she replies, giving me a reassuring smile before grabbing her purse and heading out the door. As the sound of her car fades into the distance, I'm left alone with my thoughts, the gentle hum of the kitchen appliances filling the silence. 

I sip my coffee slowly, letting the warmth seep into my bones as I contemplate how to spend the day. The idea of going down to the creek sounds tempting, a chance to escape the confines of the ranch and lose myself in nature for a while. 

"Rune?" I turn to find him standing behind me, a protective stance in his posture. "Can you swim?" I inquire, and he shrugs.

"Never had the chance to," Rune replies casually, prompting a sigh to escape me.

"Well, we're heading down to the creek today. While I write and enjoy nature, you can swim if you want, or you can sit beside me and watch me be boring," I suggest with a hopeful smile.

"You're not boring. The things you write are... Interesting," Rune remarks, catching me off guard.

"You've read what I've been writing?" I blurt out, suddenly self-conscious about every spicy scene I've penned since age fourteen.

"I've read what you've already written. Since I got here, you haven't even written a sentence," Rune comments matter-of-factly.

"Okay, that's rude. I have writer's block!" I protest, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

Rune's lips twitch with the hint of a smirk, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Writer's block, huh? Sounds like an excuse to me."

I shoot him a playful glare. "Easy for you to say. You don't have to come up with new plot twists and character arcs every other day."

"Fair point," he concedes with a shrug. "But still, you've got a talent for it. And besides, even if you're not writing, you've got plenty of other interesting things to keep me entertained."

I can't help but chuckle at his teasing tone, despite the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Rune."

He raises an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on mine. "Who said I was trying to get anywhere?"

The air between us crackles with tension, a subtle undercurrent of something unspoken hanging in the air. I glance away, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his intense scrutiny. "Anyway, are you coming or not?"

Rune nods, his grin widening. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Writer's block? That sounds serious. Maybe I can help you out. You know, provide some demonic inspiration or something." Rune's lips twitch into a playful grin."

I shoot him a skeptical look. "Yeah, I'll pass on the demonic inspiration, thanks."

He chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Suit yourself. But just remember, I'm here to spice things up, whether you like it or not." 

I roll my eyes, unable to suppress a small smile. "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind." 

How do you feel about Jeniva and Rune's relationship?