BIGBUTADORABLE.BL0GSPOT.C0M

Damn it, Jeremy Rogers is still in love with Max. It doesn't make logical sense; Asterios remembers reading that people remember and follow objects to which they form deep attachments for a long time. But it is bittersweet that this attachment is to someone else.

He has done everything for him: created an island that doesn't exist, provided a warm climate in which to live, and fed him with all kinds of food and drink.

And yet this human longs for something else, wants to see his dear Max from time to time, to think of him. Asterios can't stand it.

If this had been a few weeks ago, Asterios would surely have gotten angry and punished the human severely. But now it is different. The little human's eyes, wet with tears, look overwhelmingly sad. Asterios wants to tell him not to hide his feelings, but the shadow on the human's face makes it impossible for him to say so.

After much deliberation, the jackal wraps a hand around the human's clumsy, thick wrist and pulls him closer, asking, "Do you still miss him?"

"Let's not talk about it, okay?"

Jeremy flinches and wriggles his hands, trying to get his wrists out of Asterios' grasp, but only for a moment. Then he stops struggling, thinking that Asterios might actually be listening, though he doesn't like the idea of a black monster digging into his wounds. The middle-aged man, drunk and emotional, can't hide his fear. His lips curl as he sends a sincere smile across his face.

'Yeah, I miss you, Max.'

Instinct takes over before he remembers that the monster can read minds. It's impossible to forget someone you love so much overnight. Even though Jeremy knows he will be punished for lying, he can't control his longing.

'I miss Max so much…'

"......"

The middle-aged man's breathing becomes ragged. He has endured so much loneliness on the island, only to be so easily broken by the question of whether he misses his dear lover. The jackal doesn't threaten him, doesn't educate him, and yet his eyes are red, as if he can cry at any moment.

Asterios flicks his ears, then looks directly at the human. Jeremy is more sensitive than he realizes.

It's much better than his usual inaction, but Asterios doesn't want to alarm him. The demonic monster tightens his grip on Jeremy's wrist, distorting the shape of his long snout and pointed ears.

"I told you not to lie to me. If you want to see him, tell me the truth."

Okay, maybe it's easier than it sounds. The almighty Asterios doesn't like the idea of taking on a frail human form, but he thinks it will be much easier and more convenient.

Instead of constantly asking Jeremy if he still loves the man, Asterios can just become the object of his affection.

There is no lack of reference material. With Max's appearance and habits perfected from Jeremy's memories, the Jackal begins to distort his jet-black, intimidating appearance. His long snout grows shorter and shorter, and his skin, once blacker than shadow, gradually lightens to a healthy copper color.

Just a few seconds, and the monster transforms into something Jeremy loves. Dark eyebrows, salty, wiry blond hair. Maximus Riddell.

Then, in his human form, Asterios grabs Jeremy's shoulders and speaks in Max's voice, leaning in for a quick kiss, just as Max had done.

"I can be your 'Max' if you tell me you want me to be."

Yes, Jeremy Rogers wants a human like him. If Asterios can't create one, then he'll just have to be one.

So act like the easy-going Max.

The monster chuckles softly and nibbles lightly on Jeremy's lower lip, mimicking the memory he's stolen from Jeremy's head.

However, he does so in a way that sends shivers down the middle-aged man's spine, even as he gently rubs the inside of his lips...

Asterios doesn't know what this act means, but he knows for sure that it's something Jeremy Rogers liked to do with his Max, and just like the book he read, humans certainly feel love when someone does this to them.

But contrary to Asterios' wishes, when his eyes lock with Jeremy's blue eyes, the middle-aged man shudders and forgets to breathe. He freezes.

"......"

'You're insane.'

Not even a scream comes out. Jeremy is so stunned that he feels his heart drop to the floor. The stiff middle-aged man blinks, then lets out a belated yelp, trying to shake off the monster's grasping hands.

"Ah...ah, you...get off me...! Let go...!"

But the jackal is stubborn. He grips his wrist tighter and tighter, even asking him in a voice that sounds a bit like Max's.

"Why are you reacting like this? You still miss him."

"You...ah...that's not for you to turn into Max..."

The desperation in Jeremy's voice as he looks at the monster is palpable. It is like being sober. For a moment, he feels like an idiot for being comforted by the monster. The graying middle-aged man looks genuinely disgusted.

"Did you do it to find out what kind of person Max is... to steal my memories?"

He manages to speak with a hint of contempt in his voice.

"No, that's not what I'm trying to do..."

"Shut up, assh0le, you're a fucking real assh0le..."

Jeremy looks genuinely hurt, his shoulders heaving as he tries to pull his arm away. He is an idiot for thinking he can have a normal conversation with this assh0le. But even with his arm strength, the middle-aged man can barely wiggle his hands away, let alone shake Asterios off. A shiver runs down his spine as he realizes that even with Max's disguise, he is still a monster.

"You...ugh..! Can you let go of me?!"

Anger overcomes Jeremy's fear and anxiety about the monster. Unable to control his boiling rage, the middle-aged man cautiously raises his other hand. He is ready to slap his opponent across the face at any moment.

"You want to see Max, why do you have that look on your face?"

Asterios, on the other hand, is calm. He even looks at Jeremy as if he really doesn't understand anything. When he is in his beast form, his voice is a low grunt and his facial expression rarely changes, but this time is different. The ruggedly handsome man has a sincere look on his face, as if he would do anything to correct a mistake if it were brought to Jeremy's attention.

"......"

Jeremy's hand trembles as Asterios reaches for his cheek. So gentle and so reassuring, the middle-aged man suddenly feels like a jerk, like a jerk who'd laid hands on his lover. Even though he knows it's not Max, Jeremy can't bring himself to hit the monster. It feels like a metal skewer piercing his heart.

Damn it, his eyes look so much like Maximus'.

'Max... Max...'

Jeremy remembers the last time he saw the blond man. They were fighting and screaming. Maximus was acting strangely, incomprehensibly, and finally he wakes up from his reverie...




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