Cas seemed a bit nervous and unsure, holding tighter to Zachary's hand. "Um… we just wanted to know if… if you trust us. And to let you know that you can. We really just want the best for you, honestly, and we want you to be able to talk to us." Nix glanced between Cas and Zachary, his ears turning back a bit whenever his eyes were on Zachary. "I… don't know." He replied softly. "I think I trust you, but I'm not sure."
"I know there's a lot that can keep you from trusting me," Zachary finally spoke up. He kept his head down some still, voice soft and small. He gave Cas's hand a gentle squeeze as he spoke.
"I really just want what's best, for both of you. I want to take the time to prove it to you."
Nix turned his ears back and looked away, seeming pretty nervous and uncomfortable. "W-Well, I dunno… I need to be able to make some of my own decisions, you know? A-And… and Derlik can protect me now, too…" Cas sighed softly. "I know, Nix… you get to make decisions now too. We're just… worried. Derlik could be dangerous. We don't want you to get hurt."
"We want you to be able to make your own decisions, and we're not going to take it away. Still, everyone needs help sometimes… Derlik is a dangerous, dangerous god, Nix. He… he's hurt a lot of people, and we don't want him to do that to you."
"He's being nice, though. I don't think that he would hurt me." Nix looked the other way, crossing his arms with a soft huff. "Nix, just because someone's being nice doesn't mean they're not manipulative…" Cas replied softly. Nix shook his head a bit. "Derlik wouldn't hurt me."
"There are… a lot of people who seem nice who end up hurting people," Zachary said softly. Like the man Nix had met. Or Halm. "I've… I've seen Derlik hurt people, Nix, and I'm worried he isn't going to be nice for long…"
"What has he done?" Nix asked, his voice stiff and distrustful. "How do you know you haven't just been hearing rumors? And anyway, he wouldn't hurt me… he likes me."
Zachary hesitated. He didn't want to scare Nix, or Cas, but… he needed to say it.
"I've seen him torture souls. With my own eyes. He… said he liked them, too, and then he hurt them. He called it… fun."
"Well… maybe he's changed." Nix looked away, turning his ears back and scoffing. He obviously didn't want to believe what he was hearing. "I really don't know if he has, Nix… we're worried that he's just leading you on for his own benefit."
"We… we don't want him to hurt you." Derlik's arms tightened around Nix some, his head gently pressing more into Nix's hair. Zachary tensed some, taking a step back. If Derlik woke up to hearing them talk about this…
"Just… think about it for a bit, okay?" Cas asked softly. "We really just want the best for you. We don't need to do anything definitively yet, but it might be good to keep your distance." He took Zachary's hand and gently tugged on him to try and leave the room, not wanting to be there when Derlik awoke.
Zachary had no qualms being led out, looking back at Nix.
"Please…"
Not long after the door was closed behind them, Derlik stirred, eyes opening.
"Mm, good morning," he said softly, kissing Nix's head.
"Good morning…" Nix replied weakly, not making eye contact with Derlik. His ears were still turned back, and he seemed uneasy. "You wouldn't hurt me, right?"
.jpeg)
(THE GAYNESS IS ELITE)
Derlik shifted some, looking down at Nix with concern.
"I would never hurt you," the god said softly. "And I never will."
Nix nodded a bit, fidgeting with his hands and curling his tail around himself. "R-Right, yeah… that's what I thought." Maybe they're just jealous, or they don't want me to get to do things… why would they lie about Derlik?
Derlik held Nix close still, one hand coming up to gently cup Nix's head.
"What's wrong, what happened?" He asked, voice soft and coaxing.
"Nothing, nothing…" Nix leaned into Derlik's touch and closed his eyes, sighing shakily. "Just… Cas and Zachary seem to be worried about it…"
"Oh?" Derlik said softly. "Well, then I'll just have to prove to them I just want to keep you safe." Derlik ran his fingers through Nix's hair, kissing his head.
Nix nodded a bit, purring softly at the gentle touch. "Yeah, I told them that you wouldn't hurt me, but they wouldn't believe me!"
"Really?" Derlik shook his head some. "Well, I don't know why they would. All I've done is keep you safe." Derlik kissed Nix's head again, pulling him a bit closer.
Nix shrugged a bit. "I dunno… Zachary said something about other souls, but I dunno if he's telling the truth or not."
Derlik let out a small breath.
"I've had to do some mean things for my job, but I don't want to hurt anyone."
Nix nodded a bit and huddled closer to Derlik, purring softly. "Mm… yeah. I dunno what they're so worried about."
"Yeah," Derlik agreed. "I really don't either." The god kissed Nix's head again, rubbing his back.
"Mm… we should probably go get some food soon. I wanna keep myself distracted." Nix sighed softly, glancing in the general direction of Halm's room.
"Got it," Derlik said, nodding. He hugged Nix closer, moving to sit up with the man in his lap.
Nix adjusted himself to be more comfortable in Derlik's arms, sighing softly. "What food do we have around here?"
"I'm not sure," Derlik admitted. "Shall we go look?" Derlik moved to stand, holding Nix close to his chest still.
"Yeah, sure." Nix rested his head on Derlik's shoulder and yawned, purring softly.