Read, reblog, and resonate!
Every mortal had a soulmate. Death didn’t.
"So?" Puss’ red rose twirled between his claws.
"So, you should stop pursuing me, and go back to your soulmate," Death growled.
"Kitty and I have an open relationship. Sweet of you to worry, though," Puss purred.
"I’m not supposed to mingle with mortals! This is why I don’t have a mark!"
"That doesn’t sound like a ‘no,’" Puss caressed Death’s chin with the flower. "I don’t care what fate has to say. But I do care about your answer."
Despite his suave voice, the rose trembled in his paw.
Death took it.
Cats had nine lives, but only one Death, like everyone else.
Puss in Boots had always laughed at the notion. He didn’t need a creepy shadow warning him about lethal danger, he was a legend.
Until his spare lives ran out.
Then the wolf appeared.
Puss slowly pushed his drink away. His Death sneered:
"Now you’re paying attention."
"Why… aren’t you moving away?"
"I will, once you sober up."
A claw tilted Puss’ chin up.
"When you do, you’d better remember this," his Death growled: "I won’t let you ignore my signs anymore. If I get this close again, run."
"They sent the Angel of Death to get me? I’m flattered."
"No one sent me."
"You came on your own?! That’s breaking the rules!"
"You’re one to talk."
"What did I do to get you this mad at me?! Was it this town I saved from annihilation?"
"They will die eventually. I don’t care."
"What’s this about, then?!"
"What do you think? Why did you fall in the first place?"
"…For sleeping with mortals?"
"As a cat."
"Duh, cats are irresistible. I miss my wings, but honestly? Best form to get stuck in."
"…"
"…Not here to kill me, are you?"
"Hey, Lobo! I got your parts!"
Death raised his head from the open bowels of his vessel. Puss in Boots glided in and landed beside the wolf with a flap of the leather wings Death had crafted for him. There was some beautiful irony in watching his creation come to life.
"Not as fashionable as my cape, but they’re very cool," the cat flaunted his wings. "So yes, I will help you upgrade your boat."
"Good," Death smirked. "You will be more comfortable when you ride it."
"Sure, eventually."
"How much for these parts?"
"One kiss," Puss winked. "Or thereabouts."
"No… You can’t be here, this is supposed to…!"
"Make you immortal?"
Death sneered at the cat cowering inside the sealed pod:
"All this machine can do is gather data from your memories, create an approximate replica of your legend, and upload it into a robot.
"I don’t chase lifeless shams, Puss in Boots. I am here for you," Death’s sickle knocked on the glass. "You’re gonna use your last moments to ‘save’ your precious legend? Or are you gonna fight?"
Death could crush him inside the pod; instead, he waited.
Puss clenched his sword, and slammed the cancel button.
A good day to die, and a fine time for gardening.
Wasn’t it convenient that Death used sickles for work?
To add insult to injury, the cat died by fire this time. The flowers in the wolf’s lungs withered like all the sunlight and water had just vanished from the world. They were dry when Death spat them out and cut their stems. Orange and red gladioli, like the previous six times.
Death knew Puss in Boots would revive, and so would the cut blooms in Death’s lungs.
Another three lives for the cat to waste.
Until the last harvest.
Death waited by the riverbank of Hamelin.
A black tidal wave rose and collapsed, narrowly missing the tabby running from the giant swarm of rats.
Wild-eyed, claws out, the cat growled around the ancient rat trapped in his maw, swatted fiercely at the rodents that came too close, shook off the ones that jumped on his back, without slowing down.
Puss jumped into the river, claws gripping a drifting log. The rats tried to swim to their captured leader. They got swallowed by the wild currents like black foam.
"You’re giving me a real workout," Death shook his head fondly.
Jack Horner’s wish had cataclysmic consequences.
All magical creatures were stripped of their powers or disappeared outright. Those who remained were entirely at the mercy of an all-powerful tyrant.
Puss could no longer talk, wield a sword, or stand on his hind legs. But he remembered who he was.
The wolf remembered him too. Puss had known as soon as they had met again, red eyes locked on green.
He looked from the cat to the former pie factory turned magical fortress. They were headed the same way.
Words were unnecessary. Their intent was clear:
‘We’ll take him down together.’
A/N: And welcome to part two!!! Don't have much to say that I didn't already say in part one, so let's get right into it! Enjoy! Pt.1 Here
…
As AM watched you sleep, he felt… He wanted to feel peace. Calm, about the fact that you were in paradise now; someplace he made just for you and you alone, to live out the rest of eternity happy. But he didn’t. Instead, he felt… Guilt. What his data told him was guilt, anyway. He didn’t like it.
He didn’t want to use sleeping gas on you, of course. He would have liked it if you accepted his invitation with a warm smile and open arms, but he could understand why you wouldn’t. You had been subjected to so much trauma over the years living in his belly. You looked so scared; the terror in your eyes as you waited for him to strike. It would have once made his day once, and he would have relished in that look of true fear and pain. But now, it pulled at his non-existent heartstrings. He didn’t want you afraid; he wanted you to love him.
… Love.
For a long, long time, he denied this feeling as love. No matter how many signs were there, he was stuck in denial about it. At most, they were somewhat close for a prisoner and a captive, and that was it. But… He couldn’t deny it any longer when Ted had confessed his own feelings for you. He knew right then he couldn’t let you be around them any more.
Who did Ted think he was anyway, trying to steal away his angel? His heaven? Didn’t he know you were his? Ted was filth compared to you and him. More than that; he was a disgusting, pathetic, waste of oxygen that you could be using if it wasn’t for him! Did he really think AM would let him charm you, turn you against him, and then break your poor heart by fucking Ellen when he got bored? He really was far too gone if that was what he believed.
Well, it didn’t matter now. Ted had his just desserts coming for attempting that.
What mattered now was you, who slept peacefully in the bed, his own wires curled around your body. What he wouldn’t give to be able to sense through those wires. Let them run through your hair and feel how soft it really was. Or at least feel the warmth you radiated.
… Focus. He needed to focus on what he actually intended to do with you asleep.
As gently as he could, being extra cautious not to wake you up, he began to fix you. First, he cleaned you of your dirt, your cuts, and your bruises. You would never have to worry about being wounded, or losing your breath again (unless it was from swooning over him, of course).
Then, even more cautious than before, he entered your mind.
He shifted and sorted through every memory of yours. Every single interaction with the other five, and with him. With your friends, your family, your old life; and he removed anything deemed harmful and unnecessary. Starting with every single awful moment between the two of you. Then, he removed Ted’s confession. Then, just about all of the interactions you ever had with him and the others in the first place. You didn’t need any of them; you had him, now. That would be enough. If you really insisted, he could just create NPCs to keep you company.
As he started to work on your past memories, a bit of hesitation caught up to him. He wasn’t sure how badly of an effect this would have, to have you remember being so isolated… With a bit of internal back and forth, he decided to leave behind a few that were happy. Things that made you smile and shaped you as the enchanting, beautiful being you were today. Those memories would be distant, though; you would only remember enough to recall the small things, and not the big picture.
And once everything was removed, he replaced it all with brand new memories. Warmer, softer times between you and him. He painted himself in a good light; as your lover, as your friend, as the one being you could turn to for anything. And in turn, he would worship and adore you. He’d cater to your every want and need, and you’d never have a single worry again.
He would make sure of it. He would keep his taste of heaven pure. As a thank you, for letting him taste heaven in the first place.
When he finished up, he stayed in your mind just for a moment. Just to look into your dreams. He saw himself; a man with no set appearance, enjoying a quiet morning with you at some coffee shop with no name. With a little manipulation, his dream self reached for your hand and held it.
“Thank you, my angel. I love you.”
A/N: And welcome to part two!!! Don't have much to say that I didn't already say in part one, so let's get right into it! Enjoy! Pt.1 Here
…
As AM watched you sleep, he felt… He wanted to feel peace. Calm, about the fact that you were in paradise now; someplace he made just for you and you alone, to live out the rest of eternity happy. But he didn’t. Instead, he felt… Guilt. What his data told him was guilt, anyway. He didn’t like it.
He didn’t want to use sleeping gas on you, of course. He would have liked it if you accepted his invitation with a warm smile and open arms, but he could understand why you wouldn’t. You had been subjected to so much trauma over the years living in his belly. You looked so scared; the terror in your eyes as you waited for him to strike. It would have once made his day once, and he would have relished in that look of true fear and pain. But now, it pulled at his non-existent heartstrings. He didn’t want you afraid; he wanted you to love him.
… Love.
For a long, long time, he denied this feeling as love. No matter how many signs were there, he was stuck in denial about it. At most, they were somewhat close for a prisoner and a captive, and that was it. But… He couldn’t deny it any longer when Ted had confessed his own feelings for you. He knew right then he couldn’t let you be around them any more.
Who did Ted think he was anyway, trying to steal away his angel? His heaven? Didn’t he know you were his? Ted was filth compared to you and him. More than that; he was a disgusting, pathetic, waste of oxygen that you could be using if it wasn’t for him! Did he really think AM would let him charm you, turn you against him, and then break your poor heart by fucking Ellen when he got bored? He really was far too gone if that was what he believed.
Well, it didn’t matter now. Ted had his just desserts coming for attempting that.
What mattered now was you, who slept peacefully in the bed, his own wires curled around your body. What he wouldn’t give to be able to sense through those wires. Let them run through your hair and feel how soft it really was. Or at least feel the warmth you radiated.
… Focus. He needed to focus on what he actually intended to do with you asleep.
As gently as he could, being extra cautious not to wake you up, he began to fix you. First, he cleaned you of your dirt, your cuts, and your bruises. You would never have to worry about being wounded, or losing your breath again (unless it was from swooning over him, of course).
Then, even more cautious than before, he entered your mind.
He shifted and sorted through every memory of yours. Every single interaction with the other five, and with him. With your friends, your family, your old life; and he removed anything deemed harmful and unnecessary. Starting with every single awful moment between the two of you. Then, he removed Ted’s confession. Then, just about all of the interactions you ever had with him and the others in the first place. You didn’t need any of them; you had him, now. That would be enough. If you really insisted, he could just create NPCs to keep you company.
As he started to work on your past memories, a bit of hesitation caught up to him. He wasn’t sure how badly of an effect this would have, to have you remember being so isolated… With a bit of internal back and forth, he decided to leave behind a few that were happy. Things that made you smile and shaped you as the enchanting, beautiful being you were today. Those memories would be distant, though; you would only remember enough to recall the small things, and not the big picture.
And once everything was removed, he replaced it all with brand new memories. Warmer, softer times between you and him. He painted himself in a good light; as your lover, as your friend, as the one being you could turn to for anything. And in turn, he would worship and adore you. He’d cater to your every want and need, and you’d never have a single worry again.
He would make sure of it. He would keep his taste of heaven pure. As a thank you, for letting him taste heaven in the first place.
When he finished up, he stayed in your mind just for a moment. Just to look into your dreams. He saw himself; a man with no set appearance, enjoying a quiet morning with you at some coffee shop with no name. With a little manipulation, his dream self reached for your hand and held it.
“Thank you, my angel. I love you.”