Porsha hurried to make sure that everything was in place while Dice poured himself a glass of gin. Porsha, still working on things outside, was now having that fear of fighting her own father. Would she really have to? The one who kept her safe all those years...now an enemy? She shook her mind of the horrid thought while walking up to the apartment complex. Dice gazed out his window, glass in hand, and swirled his beverage. He noticed Porsha walking into the apartment and how her demeanor had changed from earlier. It was more frantic, so, he finished his gin and cleaned out the glass in the kitchen. He sighed while unlocking his door to hear the phone ringing. Dice picked up the phone and realized it was Porsha on the other line.
"What is it?" He asked as he noticed her voice was filled with worry.
"Could you come over?"
"Sure." Dice replied and Porsha hung up on the other line.
He walked over to her apartment and knocked on the door. She let him inside and shut the door behind her. Dice noticed that Porsha had not even taken off her coat and saw her tired face. Porsha took off her coat and put it on the rack and went into the kitchen. Dice followed and hugged her gently from behind. She was a bit tense at first then sighed as she leaned back into his embrace.
"Thank you, love." She said in a quiet tone.
"You look exhausted. Why not lay down?" Dice pleaded and she rested her head back on his chest.
Dice put his head on top of her shoulder and kissed her neck. Porsha could feel her face getting flustered as he held her a bit tighter. "D-Dice?"
He put his head on her shoulder as he replied. "Yes?"
"Stay with me..." He heard her nervous voice as she asked him, but he just smiled.
"Alright. Like last time?" He asked and Porsha turned around to face him.
She kissed him on the lips and after cupped his head with her hands. "...a little bit different than last time..."
Dice could feel his body tense up at her statement. "W-what's the different...part?"
She paused and felt her face get redder while taking his hand. She walked him to her room, closed the door, and took in a deep breathe. "...cuddle..."
Dice tilted his head, "P-pardon?" and she repeated herself while she pulled him to the bed.
"I-I said I want to try cuddling!"
"Cuddling? Meaning nothing frisky?" Dice realized she was serious and was actually relieved, seeing her repeat again. "I mean we didn't do anythin' like hitting a home run or going to second base-"
Porsha chuckled and stopped his rambling with her finger touching his lips. "Nothing that extreme...Just the two of us holding one another...like, um-"
"This?" Dice picked her up and sat down on the bed. He pulled the covers other them while Porsha wrapped her arms around him.
"U-uh..." She moved around and realized she was on top of him.
"Are you alright?" Dice asked her, noticing her moving.
Porsha faceplanted her head on his chest to cover her embarrassment. "Dice help..."
"What is it?"
"How do you cuddle? I've read books in the romance about this, but I have never done this in person."
Dice chuckled aloud, hearing her honest frustration, and movies her up to meet his face. "It's similar to a hug, but longer."
"So, it is a hug?" She looked at him confused. "In the stories, it was always leading to people..."
"Making love?" Dice said plainly with an unamused expression.
"Y-yeah, but why not just lie in your companion's embrace and not do that?"
Dice blinked, hearing those words that sounded exactly like his when he was venting to Wheezy in his last relationship. He pulled her in for a kiss on her lips. "It can be. We can be like this even when you fall asleep."
Porsha smiled, "I am glad..." and laid her head down on his chest. "...Dice..."
"Yeah, Porsh?"
"Were you afraid to ever do this?"
Dice paused for a moment and then answered truthfully. "I actually was..."
"Who was it with? Someone you trusted?" He held her a bit tighter and she looked at him.
"Dice?"
"...It was with...Foxtrot..." He answered bitterly. "It will make more sense if I tell ya the full story, but I don't want you to feel any different from this now."
"Dice, you can tell me anything. Nothing will change us and you can talk to me about these things." She wiggled her way up, Dice looked down at her, and he was greeted by her sweet smile.
"Thanks love." Dice replied to her and kissed her forehead.
"Also, you had gin again and you didn't share." She giggled and he smirked.
"I only had a sip of it when you called me."
~~~(Dice's Flashback at the Casino)~~~
Dice took a long sip of his gin while Foxtrot walked up to him. The casino was lively, busting with newcomers and regulars, but he was waiting for someone to slip. Soon enough a man at the poker table fibbed, signaling Dice to make his move. Foxtrot grabbed Dice's hand and this caused him to stop.
"Foxy, please let me do my job. I can entertain you later." Dice pleaded, but his voice was never heard.
"You. Me. Now." Foxtrot demanded while he pushed Dice to a wall.
"We can do something later when I get off. Please, just this once." Dice kissed Foxtrtot's nose and heard the animal huff in frustration.
"Fine."
Dice was released from his grip and made his way to do his job. Get the contracts, hand them over to the Devil, and watch the poor soul suffer for all eternity for their actions. Dice walked into his office at the casino. He got his room key and went upstairs to his room. Dice felt exhausted, managing the tables, keeping employees in line, making sure everyone was alright, and having to call the bouncers on some people. He plopped down on his bed as he heard a door open.
"Looks like someone's tired." Foxtrot chuckled as he laid down on the bed beside Dice.
"Another hectic day at the casino, but..." Dice rolled over and Foxtrot was now on top of him. "Uh, Foxy...w-what are ya doin'?"
"What does it look like?" Foxtrot scoffed as he unbuttoned Dice's shirt.
"I thought we were just going to cuddle?" Dice noticed his hands move down past his waist and he flinched.
"Well, we can cuddle and do this." He answered, seeing Dice whimper and grab his hands.
"N-no. I-I told you I don't want to do it."
Foxtrot raised his eyebrow, "Well, your body tells me otherwise. Now, coorperate and it won't hurt as much." and pushed him down hard on the bed.
"Please! D-don't!" Dice tried to make him stop, but he wouldn't listen.
"If you loved me you would do it. I guess you just aren't man enough to go through with it." Foxtrot answered as he pushed his whole body weight onto Dice.
Dice could hardly breathe, on top of being worn out from work, now had to make his lover satisfied. "Foxtrot..."
"Yes?" He looked at Dice as he was getting very handsy below Dice's belt.
"Will you stay after we do this?"
"Sure, but you know I leave when I want." He replied and held Dice's hands back. "Let me have my fun King and I can make you like it too."
Time passed and Dice eventually became numb to his lover's abuse. Dice did not have a say in when or what he wanted in the relationship and vented to Wheezy, but never to the Devil. He knew the demon would get furious if he found out about this, so, he kept his mouth shut. Dice carried on with the management at the casino when he walked outside, seeing Wheezy puffing a cigar.
"Mr. Wheezy, y'know that's cannibalism, right?" Dice questioned while Wheezy gave a grin.
"Ya finally got loose! Here, have a hit." Wheezy handed Dice a cigarette and lighted it with his finger.
Dice sighed and took the cancer stick. "I am free from Foxy because he doesn't take too kindly to smokers..." He breathed in smoke and blew it out slowly.
Wheezy knew something was off. "King." He said as Dice leaned up against the wall.
"Yeah, Wheeze?"
"Are you happy being with him?" Wheezy asked and saw Dice take another hit. He didn't reply and it made Wheezy worry more. "KD, ya know you can talk to me about anythin' that's going on. Always hear to lend an ear, boss."
"Then could I get your advice on something?" Dice sputtered out quickly, causing Wheezy to sit down beside him.
"Shoot, King."
"Don't laugh at me, but..." Dice sighed in frustration then finished his sentence. "Is love supposed to hurt?
Wheezy was drawn back by his statement. "Like with all tha emotions and stuff?"
"N-no...I understand that much..." Dice looked down as he saw his sleeve was unbuttoned.
Wheezy noticed his scars on his wrists that he quickly hid by pulling up his glove. "Dice, has he been too rough on ya?" Dice couldn't think of something to say, but Wheezy continued on. "If he is too rough on ya then ya gotta tell 'em before you break."
"But I already have...Wheezy, I-I don't know how much more I can take..." Dice covered his face with his hands.
"Wait, you two have been getting frisky...every night?" Wheezy asked him and saw him nod. "Have ya told him ya needed a break from that?"
"I've tried...it doesn't phase him..." Dice lifted his head up and looked at wheezy. "...he won't even just cuddle. All I asked last night was to cuddle, but he said no and we fought again..."
"So, you've been pacifing him and he doesn't do what ya ask of him?"
"Pretty much on point with that."
Wheezy scoffed, "Dice, that's not how a relationship goes. It is like a team effort to make both sides happy." and noticed Dice looking away.
"How do you do it? How have you and Mangosteen stay afloat?"
Wheezy chuckles, "We listen to what one of us has to say. Make a compromise, be there for one another, and know when to step back if one of us in uncomfortable with doin' anythin' risky." and Dice sees the smile on his face.
"You're smiling." Dice chuckled.
"I know and you should find someone that makes you smile too. It'll be the best thing to look forward to when you come home every day."
"Mr. Wheezy." DIce said while he stood up.
"Yeah, boss?"
Dice put out the cigarette on his shoe. "Thank you."
~~~(Back to Dice and Porsha)~~~
Dice noticed Porsha was still listening to him. "Y-you heard every word?"
"Yes, why wouldn't I?" She answered, making Dice realize something. Porsha was different. She listened to him vent and no one did that. Except for Wheezy and the Devil, but none of his lovers. He moved her up to meet her face.
"So, are we-"
"No, we are not going to make love. You want to cuddle and I want to cuddle, right?" Porsha stated and Dice nodded.
"Yes, just snuggling."
Porsha kissed him on the lips gently and he felt himself grow tense then relax. She released his lips from hers and replied sweetly. "Then we just cuddle. You never have to force yourself to do that with me."
Dice held her close as he hid his face on her shoulder. Porsha understood what that meant and pulled him to lay down on her chest. She rested her head on top of his as he finally replied. "O-okay..."
"Hey, Dice?" Porsha said and then looked down at him. "Love?" She saw he had gone to sleep in her arms and just simply smiled. "Goodnight...my love..."
~~~(Dice's Dream)~~~
Dice awoke in a cold sweat. Unable to breathe, unable to speak and unable to move his arms. He struggled to move, but suddenly heard a voice. It was Porsha's. She sounded scared or frightened.
"P-Porsha!" He called out and heard her scream. Dice jolted up out of bed and ran into the darkness. "PORSHA!"
No reply was heard then he realized he was missing his clothes. Dice turned back to find that the bed he had lied in was gone and replaced with something else...something much worse. It was a combination of rusted machinery, heads protruding outwards, and a crescent moon in front. The faces were disoriented and scattered around the clanking and cluttering concealing some. Dice backed away and he ran into someone behind him.
Dice turned around to see Porsha behind him. "Porsha!" He hugged her tightly, but she pushed him away.
"No time!" She said, quickly taking his hand and they began to run.
"Wait, why?" Dice asked then he realized she was missing clothing as well. "Also, where are our clothes? We were wearing them a moment ago?"
"I don't know, but right now we need to get away from that thing!" Porsha replied as she glanced behind her.
"What do you need me to do?" Dice asked.
"Think of a happier place! Please!" She explained and Dice pulled on her arm, causing her to halt.
"Hold on." He held her close as the black void around them shattered into one place they both knew.
The garden that her mother and father left for her. It was quiet and peaceful while she lifted her head. "D-Dice..."
Dice noticed her voice was shaking and she held his hands tightly. "Porsha, what happened?" She wouldn't answer. "PD you're shaking! You said yourself that we have to work together, so, please tell me why you are so frightened."
Porsha drew in a staggered breath, "...I-I'm terrified..." and put her head on his chest.
"Love..." He held her tightly, realizing what just happened. "Was that-"
"My father..." Her voice caved in as did her heart at the reality of the matter.
"How?"
"...He promised to do anything to protect me...I didn't think he would do this..." She answered in spurts.
"We can get him back." Dice reassured her, but she gave a different response.
"...no, he won't...he made me promise..."
He saw her fear turn into terror through her eyes. "Promise what?"
"He made me promise to kill him if she ever asked me to..."
Dice was at a loss for words after hearing that then she realized she was dreaming. "Porsha, we are dreaming, right?"
"Y-yes...so, it is a bad dream?" She answered then noticed Dice was gone. "D-Dice? Dice! DICE!"
~~~(End of the dream)~~~
Author's Note
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