Erich sighed, wanting to let out all those thoughts from his mind which are affecting him drastically. After working late in the night, he returned home and was surprised to see Red waiting for him.
It was an odd demeanour he couldn't understand, coming from Red. "Why did you wait for me?" he asked, taking a seat. "Uh.. I was waiting for you." She said, pointing at the food. What he failed to notice: Red kinda felt guilty for behaving so badly with Erich.
"You don't have to." He passed her his usual smile. "Why? Isn't it a part of my obligation?" She excused. "No." He smiled and heated up the food as they had dinner and went to sleep.
On Sunday, the couple was having a comfy holiday as Red was baking a cake and Erich was watching her from afar with his lips curved upwards gently, captivated by how she was making it.
Red noticed his gaze and asked with a nervous smile, "What are you looking at?"
"You."
"Aren't you tired from doing it for the past seven years?" She asked. "Those were only seven years, I don't think a lifetime would be enough." He flirted. Red stopped and narrowed her eyes at him, "Shut up." She said, He only smiled in return and continued to watch her but then Red received a call from her Mother that she was coming but too much to Erich's surprise Mrs Bennet was coming with Bertha and... April.
It was hard for Erich to stay composed in front of them but he managed to pull it out.
"Oh I thought you were angry with me! You didn't even come to the wedding." Red chirped, hugging April. "Oh how can I stay angry with you?" April smiled as both friends greeted.
"Ah, April, come here. Meet my husband Erich Black. Erich, she is my closest friend, April Lopez."
"Hello, Erich." Erich passed her a faint smile and tried his best to avoid her and receive the most displeasing news; April shifted to NYC.
Why does this witch have to come here? She will surely ruin my life. He bitterly thought.
"Ah, Red, can you show me the bathroom?" April asked. "Erich, could you do it? I am going to get the cake." Red smiled. Erich gulped, "S-Sure."
To everyone everything was normal and a reunion but Erich knows the delicacy and fury building inside him.
The moment Erich and April turned into a corridor, he grabbed her arm and pinned her to the wall, "Why the hell are you here?" His voice was low but enraged. "Don't forget I am here as your dear wife's friend." She smirked. Erich put his one hand on the wall and held her arm with the other in an iron grip.
"Why can't you get out of my life?!" He whisper-yelled. "How can I when you have the person you love beside you?" She replied in the same tone. "You know how we got married." Erich whispered, moving away from her.
"Exactly, are you that desperate that you married Red knowing she loves Lucifer." April said compassionately,holding his shirt but he yanked her hand away.
"She wanted to move on." Erich said, looking away. April mockingly laugh at his word, "Are you the stupid? Do you really think she wanted to move on?" April snickered. I know exactly why. Erich thought but averted his gaze.
"Red is using you." April sneered. "You are here to meet your friend, don't meddle in my life." Erich muttered.
"Fine then." April left, passing him a smirk and joining others.
"Ah, Erich. Mama said there's a family dinner coming up. We have to attend it." Red told him. "Her Uncle is also coming."
"And Sister April is a part of your family anyways." Bertha grinned. "Sure, we will come." Erich smiled, taking a seat as the time spent in a blur and no one but Erich could feel the tingling pain and consternation roaming in his mind.
•~~•~~•
Erich and Red were coming back from dinner. His heart was pounding out of his chest, extreme stress surging in his body as his mind was intoxicated by the loathe he had to spread but didn't have enough to do.
It was raining heavily, Red looked outside and sighed deeply, "It's raining so hard, It will take us a while to reach home. Why couldn't we stay back at home?" She asked.
"Why!? Do you have a problem by being alone with me!?" Erich exasperatedly asked, taking Red by a moment of startle to comprehend, "What happened, Erich? I was just saying." Red said but he glared at her,
"Nothing happened to me. It was you who resented me!" He hissed. Red couldn't get what happened to him but the wrath glistening in his eyes clearly embed a fright in her heart,
"Yeah. Because it freaks me out to think you know me." Red reasoned in a low voice, looking timidly at him. "Then who told you to enter my life!?"
"Y-You said it-"
"Don't I have emotions!?" He yelled at her. Red gasped, holding the hem of her dress as a tear pricked in her eye, making an almost crying face.
"Why are you making this face? Can't handle a few words?" He mocked, rolling his eyes, terrifying her. "What happened to you?" Red asked, wiping the tears, "What I said that you are getting so riled up!?"
"Out." He said, deadpanned. "What?"
"Out. Now."
"Erich, it's raining outside. Where will I go?" Red said. "I don't care. Get out." Erich said coldly, giving her the same look she gives him.
Red's lips were quivering and a tear rolled down her cheek. She sniffed and wiped her eyes, "Fuck you!" She shouted at him and got out, leaving him all alone in unfathomable misery.
Red walked out of the car, cursing Erich in her mind for what he did. Walking aimlessly, drenching in the rain with tears of misery mixing with his tears.
"I should have known he would get weary!" She cried, going where feet took her in the heavy weight of sadness. "You threw me away as well." She sniffed, trying to wipe her tears as to distinguish them with rain but to no avail.
"What does he think of himself!? I didn't even say anything and he just erupted like a volcano!"
She sniffed and broke into sobs as she walked, trembling violently by the cold water, with a blurred vision. She tried to cross the road by failing to notice a car coming in her direction. Red stumbled and was about to fall down but a hand pulled her back, taking her back in the arms of a familiar scent. Her shaky form looked up only to meet a pair of emerald orbs, crying desperately, breathlessly, hopelessly.
Erich stares intensely at her, saving her at the last moment, holding her with no intentions of letting her go, crying.
Red growled when she saw him and pushed him away,
"Why are you here asshole!? You threw me out. I should have known you would get tired of me!" She yelled at him and began to cry out loud, "I was a fool to think you could actually evoke love in my heart!"
She sniffed, shaking her head, "What did I told you that you get so-" Before she could speak further, Erich came closer and cupped her cheeks, boring his eyes in hers, losing in the incomprehensible allure, losing his breath he moved dangerously close to her face, tangled his breaths with hers and whispered huskily,
"That's what I always desire... the honour to call you mine." Before Red could ask further, Erich took her into a soft kiss!
He pressed his lips upon hers, kissing her as a show of his cherished caprice. Wanting to reside in the shades of her night, as his stone was melted by her with the need to merge with her.
He moved his lips upon hers, Red's grip on his shirt tightened, unable to move. She just stared at him while he, with his eyes closed, kissed her. Red shivered when he wrapped his arms around her neck and pulled her close.
Erich espied the moment, he never thought he would which acted as an eternal source of salvation as he gradually pulled away, speaking breathlessly,
"I am sorry for what I said, Red... but.. I beg you for a chance..."