CUT AT WHAT'S ALREADY CUT

　Things had progressed rapidly.

　Under the silken covers of a canopy bed, Zophis finds himself enclosed in a cage of Koko's limbs, claustrophobic. Though he was grateful for her company, tonight her bare skin sticking to his felt suffocating— He wouldn't get a wink of sleep like this. With a quiet growl, he pushes Koko's arms up and away from him to create an escape route. He inches back only far enough for Koko's body not to overlap his. Some nights, she could be a surprisingly heavy sleeper. Zophis watches her peaceful face, lost somewhere deep in a dream, as her side clad in scarlet chiffon rises and falls slowly with each breath... This was certainly much more comfortable.

　He squints at Koko's arms, now folded in front of her chest and resting on the mattress. Even with his keen vision, he could only make out shapes through the darkness, details forbidden from him even in her most vulnerable sleeping state. Zophis frowns, huffs— Foiled again, and allows himself to fall into slumber.

　All of his partner's mannerisms fascinated him. From how she crossed and uncrossed her legs under the dining table at each meal, how she would idly toy with the wooden earrings she always wore... Even the simplest things he found endearing. But there was one tendency of Koko's that Zophis found uniquely compelling. Rows of self-inflicted injuries decorated the girl's forearms. A cry for help, a curse upon her enemies, an escape from the pains of the heart... It was deceptive, destructive, and so very like a human...

　But it was an old habit; Koko hadn't taken a blade to her own skin since she had become Zophis's partner. No matter how deep the wounds had once been, they had all healed over by now. The only remaining evidence of them were scar lines in faded grey-pink.

　Despite Zophis having seen every inch of her doll-white body, having combed through every one of her thoughts, Koko still shyly shielded her forearms from him. It was incredibly irksome. All of her already ought to belong to him (and itdid, it did), yet she had the nerve to deny him this one small thing...

　Frustration grew into irritation. He recalls her memories; At times she had cut deep enough for a layer of skin to split, the laceration resembling parted red lips, so inviting... But such recollections, played over and over again, lacked sensation, response... and could only satisfy him for so long, if they could at all.

　Zophis finds Koko exactly where he expects to. His human partner sits on the edge of their shared bed, taking off her tall leather boots. He finds himself thinking that navigating the maze-like corridors of the old castle while wearing them must be horribly uncomfortable, but Koko makes it appear so natural. It gives him an odd sense of pride that he fails to properly place.

　He observes her a while longer in secret; She is undressing before turning in for the evening. The outfit he had designed for her— Ah, well, she had given her own input— is needlessly, somewhat strangely complex in its layering, making it easier for Zophis to remove it than it was for Koko to remove it herself. In that way it more closely resembled something made for a fashion doll, as opposed to clothes meant to be worn by a human being on a daily basis. Once down to her undergarments, the pieces of her ensemble lay haphazardly over the arms of the bedside chair.

　"Koko..." Zophis reveals his presence at last. "Is that any way to treat such nice clothes?"

　Koko startles slightly as Zophis continues his gentle reprimand. It was hardly uncommon for him to appear out of thin air.

　"After I had them so specially prepared for you..."

　"I was going to hang them up..." Her tone is somehow childlike for a moment. "Are you coming to bed so early? Or..."

　As she trails off, Zophis flies up to her and circles around, tracing his fingertips from one bare shoulder to the other. He is feather-light, all angel-weight... Koko giggles at her partner's playful gesture. The perfect opening— Zophis seizes her wrist and twists it to inspect the skin. It's impossible for Koko to hide or wrest away from him.

　"Zophis...?!" Koko freezes stock-still. "Are you angry?"

　"Not at all." A lie, but not for the reason Koko may assume. "Only curious... Why did you stop doing this?"

　"Doing what?" She feigns ignorance.

　"Hurting yourself. Don't be stubborn..."

　Koko slips free from Zophis's loosened grip and takes a seat on the bed once more. She pouts, arms crossed defensively over her half-naked body.

　"Do I need a reason to stop doing a stupid thing like that?" Her annoyance seems genuine, but it quickly fades into something sadder, almost ashamed. "That's something a weak person does. When they can't fight back..."

　A reasonable enough explanation— Zophis had given Koko the ability to externalize the pain that she once had no choice but to conceal. Why make yourself suffer when what you really want is to inflict your pain on others? But even still...

　"Yes, there's no need to punish yourself any longer, but..." Zophis takes hold of Koko's wrist much more delicately this time, gently stroking the rows of scars with his thumb, admiring. "Don't you miss the sensation at all...?"

　A momentary pause; Koko is at a loss for words.

　"It wasn't the pain that I liked..."

　She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear using the hand not held by Zophis.

　"Well... Maybe the stress relief..."

　Zophis stops and meets her avoidant gaze intently.

　"So you won't do it?"

　"No. I mean, I don't think so..."

　The corner of Zophis's mouth twitches into a frown, his brow furrowed. Koko either isn't getting the hint, or far worse, is being difficult on purpose. He could easily take control of her mind to get what he wanted, but that wouldn't be satisfying for something like this. It would be meaningless unless she harmed herself of her own volition.

　Frustrated, Zophis presses the side of his pointed thumb nail against Koko's wrist. Something had gone awry in his thinking at some point, and he was no longer sure of what exactly it was he wanted from Koko at this moment. With one swift swipe, he could certainly break skin... Perhaps just to see her bleed, to see her wince in pain, would be enough...

　From his place lowered before her on the floor, he might seem to be entreating his partner, begging, but in truth he made a wordless demand.

　Urbanely, he touches his lips to Koko's wrist— Her pulse accelerates, anticipating Zophis's next move. He continues, kissing her forearm, the crook of her elbow... As he trails his affections higher up her arm, he pushes Koko onto her back— Eliciting from her a sweet little "ah" of mock surprise. "Ah"... How lovely, let's hear more of that ... Zophis looms over her. Koko's face is tinted pink, a shade that suits what little she is wearing. Lovely. Lovely. Lovely.

　It takes every ounce of his willpower for Zophis to keep from devouring her. He pries his eyes away from her perfect body only in order to kiss her again— This time on the shoulder, leading to her neck. He lingers there before he opens his mouth to suck, enamel grazing her skin. Koko makes a soft whine as Zophis leaves behind a kiss mark. He runs his tongue over his teeth and swallows, staring fiercely down at his handiwork. Koko watches expectantly from the corner of her eye.

　Zophis places his parted lips around the reddened flesh, newly tender. Rows of fangs prod threateningly against Koko's shoulder.

　At first it only really itches, pinpricks, stinging, but as Zophis slowly and deliberately closes his jaw— The sensation blooms outwards, rapidly intensifying heat-pain that explodes through Koko's muscles and skin, radiating. She lets out a sharp cry— Pain or pleasure, it matters not (though Zophis suspects a mix of both).

　Yes, a punishment... He'll discipline her for thinking to resist, to deprive him.

　He pulls his teeth free from the wound, shallow but sore. A stream of blood flows from Koko's neck and pools above her collarbone. She turns to look directly up at her partner through watery eyes, seeing that his have taken on the red and yellow hues of passion. Zophis fails to read Koko's expression, which seems to beg him both for mercy and for more. He's clueless as to which option he finds more enticing.

　"Zophis..." She calls his name, hushed and breathy.

　He closes in again. Bear trap jaw snapped shut tight, he pulls Koko into a death roll. Zophis's teeth encircle her clavicle, piercing so deep they threaten to scrape against her skeleton. While one hand restrains Koko's arm by the wrist, the other is free to explore her body— Prodding between her ribs, then roughly groping at her breast. Vulgar, obstructive things... What purpose do they even serve?

　Zophis traces his fingers down Koko's abdomen, one coming to rest in her navel for only a moment. She jolts and he feels her grip his shoulder for support. Is it really so sensitive...?Lower still, Zophis brushes the soft lace of her panties. He slides his middle finger along the center, rubbing against a girl's most precious place...

　Koko's torso twists to escape the agony of Zophis's jaws, but her hips rise to roll against the hand that teases. Which is it?Though still biting down hard, Zophis grins wide. Feeling Koko writhe beneath him pathetically was so much fun... He was admittedly growing excited.

　He releases her from his vise grip and assesses the damage. Koko's shell-pink bra is stained dark with blood, her chest heaving with each labored inhale. At this rate he may end up taking a proper bite out of her... He resists the urge and instead kisses the red-wet wound, laps up the blood graciously— How intoxicating, far more so than any wine he had ever tasted. Ill-mannered, Zophis licks his lips clean. He digs two fingers into Koko's barely-clothed pelvis, drawing a gasping moan from her.

　Dragging his tongue up Koko's neck leaves behind a streak of diluted scarlet. Zophis licks along her jawline before bringing his lips to hers— His tongue slips inside her mouth, filling it with the taste of iron. Making a human drink her own blood, even such a small amount... It's likely she wanted to be kissed, but would she be happy with one as polluted as this...? Zophis tries to keep from laughing into Koko's eager mouth.

　He backs away to break the kiss, but Koko stops him from going too far, clinging to his golden curls.

　"What?" Zophis glares down at her, mocking. "You won't hurt yourself anymore, but you'll let me do it?"

　"Mm..." A devious little smile crosses Koko's lips. "It's not that..."

　She lets Zophis's hair slip through her fingers, places her hand on his chest just below the ruby brooch he wears.

　"I thought you were really mad at me..." Her hand glides down the red stripe on his robe, tempting. "But you just wanted to play, didn't you?"

　Zophis goes stiff. Play? No, he was trying to teach her a lesson. As if he'd do such sordid things without purpose behind his actions... She really only ever thinks about one thing.

　"Speak for yourself. Just look at you..." He scoffs at her. "Positively debauched."

　"So mean~!" Koko pretends to be hurt. "But you're the one who started..."

　She begins to undo the clasps keeping Zophis's coat closed, revealing his knit inner layer which clung much closer to his slender form. He allows her and shrugs off the loose outer garment.

　"Better?"

　Zophis says nothing.

　"Well Ithink so."

　With a self-satisfied hum, Koko caresses Zophis's narrow hips.

　"If you wanted to do it..."

　"It wasn't my intention," He interrupts, his smile warped and jeering. "But since you're so fond of me..."

　"Of course I am!" Koko can't help but laugh. "Come here, Zophis... Don't make me beg."

　She snakes her arms around his shoulders.

　"Do what you want with me."

　"There you are~!"

　Koko pounces from behind, pulling Zophis into her embrace, nuzzling her face against the exposed locks of his hair. The warmth between their bodies is immediately stifling.

　"What're you up to out here?" she asks. "Staring at nothing again?"

　The two stood on one of the many grand terraces of the ruins' castle, overlooking a seemingly endless expanse of dense, dark green rainforest. From a vantage point as high as theirs, it would be hard to see much of anything other than the canopy.

　"Please, Koko..." He sounds mildly bothered by the implication. "I needed a change of scenery, to clear my head."

　"Always so busy... Becoming king sure takes a lot of hard work."

　"Indeed." A curt response.

　To Koko, Zophis seemed to have all the patience in the world— Conspiring, then waiting for all the pieces of his carefully thought-out plan to fall into place. Always waiting, always hatching some kind of plot...

　She wished she could have even an ounce of that patience.

　"Zophis... I want you to see something." she tugs lightly on her partner's robes. "Look..."

　Bending at the waist, Koko pulls aside the crimson collar of her blouse, exposing to him the corner of her collarbone...

　Surrounding little teeth marks was a mottled bruise that spilled out over her neck and shoulder. It had been a reddish, pinkish color when he had tended to the puncture wounds his teeth had left, but it had now turned a deep and alarming violet. Though it was undeniably unsightly, it somehow suited her...

　Immediately understanding its significance, a thrill ran straight through to Zophis's core. There was no need for him to fixate so intensely on Koko's old habit when marking her himself had turned out to be this rewarding...

　She wore a new kind of decoration, given by him, and for his eyes only.