Ethan sat up, glancing around his room with wide eyes. Sun was seeping through his curtains, illuminating the room in a soft yellow glow. The bright light juxtaposed Ethan's erratic mind which was racing with thoughts and questions such as what did he just sign himself up for?

His phone lit up from where it was laying on his bedside table, indicating one of his friends had tweeted. He glanced at the time: 6am. He had a couple of hours before Mark got up. Deciding against falling asleep again, he got up and changed into a random shirt and jeans. He slipped on the first pair of shoes he had access to before heading outside. Immediately regretting not wearing a jacket, he shivered in the cold as the wind nipped at his bare arms.

It had been a while since he had gone for a walk at such a bazaar time so he had forgotten how quiet and calm the world was when it was asleep. The sun hadn't long since risen so there was still a gentle pink tint in the sky. He walked for around an hour or so until his surroundings became less familiar. Ethan liked the feeling of being lost. He didn't panic, just letting out short breaths at the same frequency as usual. He shoved his hands into his pockets, deep in thought and, in that moment, he felt invisible. He observed the ambience, feeling like he was watching from much further away.

Leaves fluttered in the breeze, as if dancing to their own music. Someone was walking a dog, also appearing to be in their own little world. The dog was black and made a point of sniffing almost every blade of grass he came across. The animal and its owner eventually got closer. The dog ran to Ethan's feet, excitedly sniffing his shoes. The man bent down and stroked the fluff-ball's head, making a quiet "awww" noise in the process.

"I'm sorry. He usually doesn't like people much." They muttered, tugging the dog's lead in attempts to coax him away.

"It's alright. I love dogs! What's his name?" Ethan replied with a friendly smile. The dog had obviously taken a liking to him as it plopped down on the pavement by Ethan, his tongue hanging out as he panted.

"Barney. He used to have a brother too but he passed away at the end of last year. Why am I telling you this?" There was a trace of humour in the question at the end, a sign they had long since passed the stages of grief.

"He's adorable. I'm really sorry for your loss. What breed is he?"

"Barney's a shih-tzu poodle cross and Alfie, his brother, was a schnauzer."

"Cute. I should probably let you go. I'm Ethan by the way."

"Oh, I know ...in the least creepy way possible. I love your YouTube channel. I'm Hayden." (This character and their dog is definitely not based on me and my dog I don't know what you're on about)

A grin broke out on Ethan's face. The person was also smiling and their face was practically glowing. They looked partially like they were going to vomit but they were literally jumping up and down on their feet. Their excitement was adorable so Ethan wondered how he hadn't noticed it sooner. Then he realised he had been too enveloped in petting the dog.

"Can I take a photo? Only quickly because I have college soon."

"Sure." Hayden pulled out their phone and held it out, snapping a quick picture.

"Thank you so much! Have a nice day!" They tugged the dog away and Ethan waved at them both.

"You too!"

Ethan quickly found the route back to his apartment, managing to make it before Mark or Jack even woke up.

When Mark did eventually stumble into the kitchen, Ethan was making a cup of coffee as if he had only just woken up. "Morning." Mark greeted, his voice groggy.

"Good morning. Coffee?"

-

"Jack, oh my- how'd you get that? It looks painful!" Mark asked, his eyes wide as he stared at the large purple ring around Jack's eye. Ethan, from across the room, noted that Jack was wearing a very baggy hoodie and was fiddling with the sleeves even more than usual. The bruise was quite faded so the fact that Jack had attempted to cover it up was clear.

"I fell out of bed and ended up hitting my eye. I'm surprised you didn't hear me." Jack expertly replied. It was like he had planned the excuse and had it ready, just waiting for Mark to ask.

"Ethan, looks like you've got competition," Ethan looked up, sending his friend a puzzled expression. "For my clumsiest friend!"

-

"Jack, did Anti-" Ethan asked but he was cut off by Jack's loud huff.

"Of course it was Anti. Who else would it have been? It's fine, just... just leave me alone." Jack grumbled, turning around so quickly that he managed to hit his arm on the edge of the table. His face instantaneously scrunched up in pain and he cried out a loud profanity. If Mark hadn't gone to the shop to get some milk, he would have heard it from his office which was the other side of the apartment.

"Jack-"

"Leave me alone. I'm fine!" Jack held his arm against his chest, tears burning his eyes.

"You're not. Did you..." Ethan cut himself off that time, deciding the answer was obvious in the amount of the stress the other was displaying. "Come here." He gently intertwined their hands and guided Jack into the bathroom. Jack had finally given up on refusing Ethan's help.

Silence lapsed over the pair as Ethan reached up into one of the cabinets. "Take off your hoodie."

"Eth-"

"You need to. I won't judge: I've been through this, remember?"

Nodding, he reluctantly tugged off the jumper. Ethan's breath hitched but he proceeded to pull out a wrap of bandages. He cut an appropriate length off before turning back to Jack who was beginning to tremble as tears dripped down his pale face.

He grabbed a wad of tissue and commanded Jack press it into the wounds. He complied but not without releasing a sharp hiss. Red covered the tissues. After a few moments, Ethan wrapped Jack's arm up.

"Thank you." Jack mumbled. He kept his voice quiet to decrease the likelihood of Ethan hearing.

"You don't need to thank me, you know?"

"I do. I'm so stubborn all the time and all you've wanted to do was help. And- And that time I called for Anti... I'm so sorry, Eth. For everything." Jack started to sob so Ethan wrapped a protective arm around him to offer his support.

"You don't need to apologise. I've been through this; I know how hard it is." The only sound was Jack's gentle cries until Ethan murmured, "Will you tell Mark?" Jack's eyes filled with fear and his expression made what he wanted to say apparent. "I think you should. He helped me so I know he won't judge."

"I know... I'm just scared."

Jack stiffened as a deep voice in his head muttered, "You should be."

"Me too, Jack. Me too..."

So the other day I had an idea for a one shot. I wrote a single chapter and was like "hey maybe I should do a part 2!" Did a part two and that part two quickly became a part eight and crap I pretty much wrote a full length story in two days. It's focused around Anti and just ahh the idea seems cool to me.

The book should be out after I finish posting this one but just to hype it a little, here's the description:

Anti had died for a moment. The heart monitor had gone flat and he had stopped breathing.
...So how was he alive?

He's different though. He insists he's human. Of course he isn't a human: he's a demon, right?

They just want the old Anti back.