Tibaut wasn't happy with her response as it didn't clear up how'd he talk to her going forward, but as long as she hopped off that topic, he was fine with it. It'd feel especially awkward telling someone you're not too close with that you've rejected their friend.

They soon reached the bottom of the stairs and heard a concerning racket.

“Get away you bastard. No, no, no more please!” She said in a heart-wrenchingly pathetic tone.

The two wasted no time heading downstairs, with Tibaut getting down first.

With Tibaut in front of her, she couldn't see what was going on and bumped into him when he promptly stopped.

“Ow, why'd you stop, Red Hair?”

She quickly pushed him out of the way, dreading the horror that'd met her eyes and there Vanessa lay on the floor.

She briefly wondered if she had been assaulted but a better look told her all she needed to know.

“Tch, really?”

“Stop it. I didn't do it 'cause I'm lonely-” Vanessa pleaded to whoever it was in her dreams.

Vanessa kept talking on the floor, while her face showed obvious discomfort.

Tibaut immediately walked over and crouched down trying to wake her up. He shrugged her shoulders a few times but this dream seemed to have taken a strong grip on her psyche.

Lily slowly walked over and gave Vanessa a boot to her rear.

“H-hey what are you doing? She seems kinda outta it.” Tibaut asked as he turned to her.

“It's obvious what happened, you can practically smell the booze as soon as you enter. I can't believe you held out on me when Tina took my stash.”

“Couldn't she have bought booze when we left?”

Lily cleared her throat, crouched next to Vanessa's bum and started patting it like a mother comforting their child’s boo-boo. “Jeez, I can't believe you'd let yourself get a hangover like this. I got so concerned over nothing more than you drinking too much.”

Tibaut was left floored by her change in rationale.

Before he could grill her for it, he noticed movement out of the corner of his eyes. He looked down to see Vanessa moving her head around and opening her eyes.

She stared blankly into Tibaut’s face before a noticeable blush took over her dark face. Tears even started prickling her eyes.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

(“What was with this reaction!?”) Tibaut wondered. What the hell happened to her in the two weeks since they left to leave her like that?

“Vanessa are you go-”

“You're a real bastard, you know that?” She whimpered. She sounded like a medic confronting the enemies that killed the rest of her unit. Tibaut wasn't sure what he did but he felt guilty nonetheless.

“You've decided to take his form, now huh? You know what, screw you. I’ll admit it, as long as you wear that face you can do whatever you want to m-”

Lily jumped to the floor to cover Vanessa's mouth. The woman muffled in fear until she saw who covered her mouth.

“(Lily?) Muffled Noises”

Lily quickly moved her mouth to Vanessa's ear and whispered as quietly as she could manage.

“Yeah, it's me. Could you keep your trap shut, this is the only decent guy that you have a chance with, I don't need you to frighten him with whatever the hell that was! (Had she gone so long without a date it's starting to affect her mind? Please, Vanessa don't become the female version of those guys that beg for sex, you're better than that!)”

Vanessa's eyes shot wide open and she dragged Lily's face closer to hers. “How much did you hear? What was I yapping before I woke up?”

“You sounded like you were in pain, I couldn't make out anything specific. You weren't saying anything stupid, right? I don't think this guy has better hearing than me so you should be fine.”

Vanessa breathed a sigh of relief but still wore a blushed face as he looked at Tibaut.

“Wow, you guys are back already? Wow, must have been some bullshit to be gone for two weeks, haha.” She said in a heightened tone.

She turned away from him mid-sentence, unable to look him directly in the face.

“Are you okay, Vanessa?” Tibaut immediately asked. “Did something happen while we were gone?”

“Haah, I'm fine, totally tubular, exceptionally exceptional, if I, uh, say, s-so myself. Oh, I finished your weapons, the finish is the only thing left.” She said as wiped some sweat from her brow. Which was quite unusual, as the basement was actually chilly for once.

“You sure?” He asked, concern present in his eyes.

Vanessa did her best to calm herself. “I've just had a few restless nights, big guy.”

She moved her hand up and gave his chest a soft squeeze. “Unless you want me squeezing somewhere else, scram. Me…” She took a noticeable pause “and her have some important things to discuss. We can dick around later.”

“(Oh, right, she's probably curious about her friend's feelings. I should give them some space.) Yeah, I get it, see you later.” He understandingly answered before making his exit.

The pair left behind looked at each other with Lily shaking her head.

“Using me to hide your embarrassment. You truly are something else, Vanessa.” She disappointedly stated.

“Come on, I wasn't lying that much. Before I tell you what's up with me I'm curious how it went.”

“Listen, nothing much happened alright.”

Lily cleared her throat and gave her gaze to a nearby wall. "Wow, you've done a ton of work since we left."

Her dismissiveness left Vanessa confused.

“Huh? Wait, did something bad happen?”

----------------------------------------

The room was drowned in silence. It'd be easier to find a funeral more cheerful than the room in its current state.

Both women were sitting on stools staring at each other. Lily's face seemed to be filled with acceptance, while Vanessa looked at the floor, eyes darkened, with her fingers tented, resting against her face.

“.....”

“Come on, you're making it seem worse than it actually was,” Lily commented.