Something… something changed.
She thought she was just imagining it, but the tiny hints were there. Him staring off into empty space a moment too long, random outbursts of anger when he thought nobody was looking... then finally, his frequent leaving of their bedroom at midnight.
Of course she already tried asking Subaru about it, but he only gave her that usual dead smile of his and told her he's fine. As if. Even Patrasche could tell something was wrong with him. Petra, Rem, Emilia, even Ram herself already noticed it and checked up on him. He'd only shrug them off, sometimes even outright ignore them.
And just like every night, she felt their bedsheets ruffling once again, followed by the soft thud of their door. With her natural connection to him as his contracted spirit, she knew he didn't go out that far; in fact, he'd only go to the same spot somewhere in the forest every night. He'd just stay there, unmoving, for hours and hours until sunrise. Something was definitely going on with her contractor.
It wasn't hard at all to tail him. Subaru, as much as she doesn't want to say it, has no awareness of his surroundings whatsoever. Petra could probably sneak up on him and he wouldn't notice a thing.
Just like what she felt through their connection, Subaru did indeed go out to the forest. The path was pitch dark, yet, as if he has already passed through this way countless times, he went on without so much as a trip. Beatrice herself would've probably gotten lost if Subaru's clothing wasn't so visible in the dark.
'Just where are you going, Subaru…' The blonde girl worriedly thought to herself.
And then he stopped. His sudden pause almost gave her a heart attack. What happened? Did he actually catch her?
'No… this is near the spot where he's been spending his nights.' Beatrice realized after feeling around the entire place. What's so special about this area?
The animal trail hasn't even ended yet. He was just standing in the middle of the path, not moving a single muscle. The great spirit could actually hear his breathing even from several meters away due to the sheer quietness of the forest. Actually… the forest was too quiet. Strange.
He suddenly slammed his right foot on the ground, surprising her once again. He grumbled, speaking unintelligible words for a second, then hit the ground once again.
It didn't take long until the sounds of something running through the forest echoed all around them. Beatrice knew it wasn't a mabeast, as they're still within the mansion's protective barrier, so what was it?
Something yanking her upwards by her dress almost made her heart leap out from her mouth.
"K-Kyaaa! What?! What is-"
"Beako?!"
The little girl blinked, staring back at her contractor's wide eyes. She heard growling behind her, only for her to see Patrasche's familiar face. The ground dragon had her eyes narrowed at her.
"G-Good evening, I suppose. Quite a coincidence that I see you around here, S-Subaru." Beatrice tried wriggling out of the ground dragon's bite but stopped once she heard her dress' fabric slowly getting ripped.
"Kuwaakh!" Patrasche bellowed, finally releasing her. The girl awkwardly fell on her bum.
"... Were you following me?"
He almost sounded scared… terrified, even. Beatrice couldn't help but feel even more worried for him.
"Subaru," the blonde spirit gingerly gets up, patting her back. "please. Tell me what's wrong. Whatever you're going through, I'm sure I can help!"
A distinct growl emanated from the ground dragon behind her, making her turn. Patrasche didn't have much facial expression, but she certainly gave off the impression of being angry.
"What is it, I suppose?" She didn't have time for grumpy animals when her contractor's being weird.
"Beako, I- I already told you." He scratched the back of his head, looking away. "I'm fine. I'm just… going out for a walk tonight. Yeah!"
"For the past whole week too, I suppose?" She narrowed her eyes at him.
"T-That's…" He weakly chuckled. "Yes?"
"You're not fooling me, Subaru." She crossed her arms, slightly pouting. The sight would've made Subaru coo if he wasn't getting interrogated right then. "... Please. Let Betty help you." Beatrice's face mellowed at the end.
"... Thanks, Beako." The raven-haired boy leaned down, smiling. He gave her a vigorous pat in the head. "Really. But… you can't help me with this one. But it's okay! Someone's already helping me, and I believe I can get through this with her help…"
"What?!" So he's already getting helped by some random wench! Not that she's jealous, mind you. Not at all.
Beatrice's pout came back, her face looking even sulkier than ever.
"There's no way I can't help you with anything, in fact!" She stomped her little foot to the ground.
"Oh boy, she's throwing a tantrum again…" Subaru whispered to herself, sweatdropping.
"I'm not!" Her pout grew in size.
Subaru just smiled at her. "Either way, thank you, Beako. But I'm really okay. I can handle this."
Beatrice didn't really look convinced, but the boy wouldn't back down at all. It seems that he really doesn't want her poking in on this. She's grown enough to notice these subtle hints, despite her lack of interaction with other people. Especially since her contractor can easily be read like a book.
"Kuuukh…" Patrasche lightly purred behind them. Even the ground lizard was convincing her for some reason.
"... Hmph. Fine." She turned around, frowning. "Betty understands, I suppose." After a few steps, she stopped, glancing back. "But… if there's ever some way I can help, please call for me, okay?"
'No, I don't think I'll ever will.' Subaru grimly thought to himself, behind his practiced smile.
"Of course, Beako. You can go back to sleep now. I'll…" He glanced at Patrasche, who has been staring at him this whole time. "I'll stay here for now. Just for a breather. And I have Patrasche with me, so I'll be okay."
"If you say so, I suppose." And with that, the nosy great spirit was finally gone.
Subaru heaved a heavy sigh, falling butt-first on the ground as he scratched his head. "Damn. I didn't notice Beako at all. It would have been a disaster if…" he trailed off, stopping once he felt the collar of his tracksuit being pulled.
"Ah, sorry Patrasche." He patted her head affectionately, smiling. "'That' should be finished by now, right? Let's go."
Standing up, he and the ground dragon continued on deeper into the silent forest, wary of any more unwanted guests tailing them. At least it seems that Beatrice really did go back home, as even the keen senses of Patrasche couldn't detect her anymore, nor anyone for that matter.
Not before long, they came upon a lair of some kind, wheat straws and leaves strewn about as bedding covered by a thick blanket. Subaru smiled at the sight.
"Oh. This looks better than what I imagined." Subaru nodded to himself, satisfied. "Good."
"Mmmuuukkh…" Patrasche let out a low growl, or… purr, of some kind. She nudged him on his back, pushing him towards the makeshift bed.
"Haha, yeah, yeah." He sat down on it, legs stretched out, him facing her. Patrasche nodded, seemingly happy. The scene was perfect; under the serene moonlight, a master and pet bonding, laughing and nuzzling with each other…
Subaru blinked, his smile widening.
"Suck me, Patrasche."
"Behold, the unthinkable present."
Subaru knew something went wrong during the sanctuary's trials. From the way his gaze hardens when he looks at his friends, to the raging emotions he feels every single night… something changed inside him- and for worse.
The second trial was- just like the first one- quite easy, and he even easily passed it on his first try. Its contents, however, left a permanent mark within his mind. Various still images and scenes of him having sex with different girls, young, teen, older, some he knew, some he didn't…
Some consensual, some outright rape.
There was no doubt that was him; he knew his looks- his inner self, better than anybody after all. His well-hidden desire to claim Emilia, his sadistic thoughts to 'play' with Rem… And his various attraction to many other girls, for that matter.
The trial showed him what he would've been if he pursued his desires. A world where he was literally the king, ruling over Lugnica and bending it to his will... Countless of women for him to ravage, for him to use and throw away when he gets bored… It even caught his darkest secret of being attracted to little girls, such as Felt and Beatrice. They were in his harem in that reality.
"Huh. Quite an interesting version of you, don't you think?" Echidna was smiling for a while, until they saw her other self getting railed from behind. "... I take my word back. What a disgusting pig."
He'd agree, but to his horror, he just laughed at her comment. He thought it was funny.
Subaru did his best to forget everything after the trial. The battle within the mansion served as a good distraction, that is until he saw Elsa and Meili. He died quite a number of times trying to convince everyone not to kill them- and them not to kill him.
And then after that, what? He was left facepalming as he didn't even know why he spared them. No, scratch that, he did know but he didn't want to acknowledge it. That's right… it was because of that damn trial. Elsa and Meli were among his frequent partners in bed in that vision.
He couldn't stop the laugh that escaped his mouth when he thought of that. Maybe he did have a thing for girls who kill him.
He did his best to ignore these thoughts. Of course he did. But after a measly week of abstinence, he gave up. Stopping it isn't working, he's just bottling up all of his thoughts and desires. He realized this when he almost assaulted Beatrice in her sleep.
He needs to vent somehow, someway. He didn't care how he'll do it, he just need to release all these pent-up thoughts. Self-harm? Nah, he isn't depressed enough to do that yet. Masturbation? Beatrice sleeps with him. His private life is pretty much non-existent.
"Haah. I seriously don't know what to do anymore." Subaru heaved a heavy sigh. "I'm this close to just asking Rem to blow me. That'll work right?... I'm sure it would. Ram would kill me though."
Subaru's listener just tilted their head, blinking. The raven-haired boy chuckled at that sight.
"What am I doing, talking to Patrasche… I'm seriously going insane now." He lightly patted the ground dragon, his back leaning on Patrasche's side as they laid down on the grass.
"Kuwaakh?" She cried as if asking him what he was even doing. Subaru thought it was cute and funny.
"I don't know Patrasche. I don't know." The boy rubs his forehead, groaning. "I seriously don't know what to do anymore…"
Minutes passed, but no one answered him. Unsurprising. It's not like Patrasche can actually understand him or anything…
Subaru felt her tail lightly pat his head, as if reassuring him.
… Right?
"... Thank you, Patrasche." He stretched his hand and the ground dragon leaned in. Yet again he was surprised. She understood that he wanted to pat her head. Or did she just really want to get patted and it was all a coincidence?
"... P-Patrasche?" Her eyes blinked, glancing at him. "Can you… understand me?"
The next few seconds that passed by felt like an eternity, with them just gazing at each other. Subaru gulped, excited yet feeling a little bit scared.
Then the ground lizard turned away from him, letting out a random cry.
"... Yeah, what the hell am I doing." Subaru slumped back on her stomach, his eyes closed. "I guess I'll just sleep."
His mind still tired and confused from everything, it didn't take him long at all to fall asleep. The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was Patrasche's yellow eyes staring at him… and a small girl with silver hair floating mysteriously behind her.
Something felt… ticklish? Wet? Hot. He couldn't quite place it. He's never felt this before. Or at least, it's been so long since he did…
"Hnng… w-what…?" His groggy eyes opened up to the sight of the cloudless night sky above him. That doesn't explain the strange sensation down on his… crotch?
"Wait, who- ahh?!"
Subaru gritted his teeth when a sudden jolt of pleasure ran through his whole body. Now wide awake, his bleary eyes were met with the sight of Emilia's yellow eyes.
"E-Emilia-tan?! What are you…"
The silver-haired elf was stuck in between his thighs, her lips tightly clamped over his hard-on. He felt her long tongue swirl over his member, sending another burst of pleasure through his very being.
"Wait, anngh-!" Subaru tried to move his arms, but they felt like lead. He couldn't move them at all. "Wait wait wait!"
"Mmhm…"
Emilia pulls her hair over her ear, swallowing his dick even deeper down her throat. By this point, Subaru was just a moaning mess. Well, nobody could blame him. He woke up to the face of his beloved giving him head… He didn't know how or why, all he knew was that it felt good.
There was just something… strange, though. Has Emilia's eyes always been yellow? And, her tongue kind of feel really long. Too long.
Not that he cared.
Subaru rubbed the half-elf's hair, egging her on even more. Emilia responds in kind, sucking and moving with renewed vigor. Subaru closed his eyes, a stupid smile etched on his face.
'Yeah… this is what I've been missing. All of those things that I saw in the trial… it could've been true. No, they will be true.' Subaru could care less what happened anymore. He's suffered enough already anyway… Indulging a little bit himself wouldn't hurt anyone, right?
"Take it d-deeper, Emilia…" Subaru said through gritted teeth. "Y-Yeah, like tha- shit, ah…"
"Mmhm?" 'Emilia' looked up at him, tilting her head. The motion felt fantastic for him.
"Ah, Emilia, I'm cumming…" He grabbed a fistful of her hair and viciously pulled her closer, screaming in pleasure. Emilia gave no response, only tightening her mouth and sucking him even more.
His first shot went in unimpeded; the second he felt get blocked by her tongue, it lapping repeatedly at his urethra. Each touch sent shivers down his spine. Subaru's mind was in heaven by the time his orgasm ended.
"Ohh… Ah, that was… a-amazing." Subaru said with a grin, his eyes still closed. He could still feel her lightly sucking on him from time to time.
Her soft lips finally parted from his member; chilled winds hit his sensitive cock, making him shiver. He heard her slurp- quite loudly actually- making him feel good even more.
"Kuwakh?"
Subaru's eyes quickly shot open. "Emil-…"
What greeted him was his trusty ground dragon's tilted head, her bright yellow eyes blinking at him innocently. White, sticky liquid was dripping from her mouth.
"... lia?"
There was no Emilia in sight. When he saw that thing dripping from Patrasche's mouth, he already knew what happened. He just couldn't believe it. He looked from left to right. No one. Just him and his trusty ground dragon.
It kind of just went downhill from thereon. Subaru didn't bother denying what happened that day to himself, as he knew what he really felt about it. It felt good. So good that he wanted to do it again. She did, too. All this time, Patrasche could actually understand him. This realization was the final coffin to his tattered sanity.
And so he called Patrasche again. And again. And again… Patrasche has always been obedient to him. She never disobeyed any of his commands, even before all of this happened. When he chose her among those other ground dragons, he didn't really think much of it. She just kind of had a special pull to him, for whatever reason. Was it her eyes? Her eyes felt… strange. It's like looking at another person's.
He didn't know when or why, but Patrasche would always be looking at him whenever she sucked him off. Subaru wasn't complaining- in fact, he loved it. He loves caressing her cheeks and her leaning in on his palm whenever he does so.
He also loves her tongue. Subaru has never had a blowjob before in his life (let alone from a ground dragon), but Patrasche's simply felt nice. She can coil it around his length completely, and twirl it around while massaging the head of his cock with the tip. It's like he's getting a very slimy and soft handjob while getting sucked off.
And she always seemed happy whenever they're together, just as he was.
Without anyone but the moon and the stars to witness them, they begun their nightly, primal ritual.
Without a moment's notice, Subaru took off his pants, his hard member bouncing up and down as he moved. The female ground dragon kept her eyes on it, diligently following each of its movement while making low growls and purrs here and there. The raven-haired boy eventually noticed this and smirked, chuckling.
He sat back on the bed, then spread his now bare crotch in front of her. "Come here."
Patrasche quickly heeded his call, her snout shyly nudging his cock for a reaction. When it twitched in response to her touch, she let out a happy shrill, the sound akin to a girl's giggling, albeit much more gravelly and rough.
"Stick out your tongue." Without complaint, the ground dragon did as told, showing him her pink, prehensile tongue. He didn't have to tell her any more as she proceeded to wrap it around his rigid penis, all the way to the base.
Slowly, Patrasche began to pump her tongue up and down, effectively jacking off Subaru. From the ecstatic look on his face, she knew he loved this very much, and it just spurned her on to do even more for her beloved master. After a few moments, Patrasche leaned in on his crotch, devouring his member inside her fleshy mouth.
"Shi- Patrasche…!" Subaru leaned back in surprise, crying out her name in pleasure. "Y-yeah, like that!" The boy closed his eyes, headpatting the ground dragon as she ate him up like there's no tomorrow.
"Klluumph, kuummph…" Patrasche looked up at Subaru after hearing him moan. Happy to see him looking so pleased, she started bobbing her head up and down even faster, earning her louder screams from the boy.
"S-slow down! It- It feels too- haaah…!"
He didn't even have enough strength to hold her head anymore. Subaru was just left trembling on the bed, his legs lifelessly spread open in front of her. Not long after, the familiar sensation of an approaching climax crept up on his mind.
"I'm… I'm…"
Subaru couldn't even feel anything else anymore. The pleasure she was giving him was out of this world. No matter how many times they did it, Patrasche would quite literally bring him on the brink of death with sheer ecstasy overload alone. Even right now, Subaru could feel his consciousness slipping him, as the ground dragon kept her quick pumping pace on his crotch.
"Patrasche! I'm cumming!"
And with a final thrust, Subaru's cock reached the soft, fleshy space of his ground dragon's throat, it giving him a tight squeeze. The boy finally couldn't hold it in and came directly into her esophagus, which Patrasche eagerly drank. Ropes and ropes of thick semen blasted inside her mouth, to the point where the excess even flooded out of her tightly-closed lips. While the pleasure of reaching his climax assaulted Subaru, the ground dragon never let up, continually pumping his dick with her tongue inside her mouth.
"Pa… tra…"
The dark forest seemed to dim even more around Subaru. He could feel his heart rapidly beating, it threatening to bust out of his chest. Yet even as he felt himself lose consciousness, Subaru's smile never left his face, as with the greedily slurping sound reverberating on the background.
"I… lov…"
AN: Written by me and a writer who wishes to remain anonymous. This might've given me aneurysm, you know. I hate you.
Side note: This is not connected to True nikuyoku IF in anyway. This is a standalone one-shot.