Thread 8 – Cold Hands, Warm Hearts. [0.5. Red Thread of Fate]

On November 27, 2024 By Fang Dokja In Arc 0.5. Red Thread of Fate

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Trigger and Content Warning

The following content includes sensitive material and may not be suitable for all readers. Please read the specific warnings carefully before proceeding:

1. Substance use and alcohol consumption – The narrative depicts characters who have engaged in heavy drinking and are suffering from the aftermath, including hangovers and confusion.

2. Confusion and disorientation – Characters experience a significant amount of disorientation and mental fog, with one character trying to recall the events of the previous night.

3. Power dynamics and manipulation – There are unsettling power dynamics between the characters, particularly with one character giving orders and the other grappling with confusion and feelings of loss of control.

4. Emotional vulnerability and inner turmoil – One character struggles with emotional conflict, including denial and confusion regarding feelings, which leads to a mixture of frustration and self-loathing.

5. Age gap – A substantial age gap is implied between the characters, with one significantly younger, which may create uncomfortable or problematic dynamics in their interactions.

6. Sexual implications – There are implied themes of intimacy, confusion about boundaries, and a lack of clarity regarding past actions between the characters, contributing to a sense of discomfort and awkwardness.

7. Foul language – Explicit language is used, including vulgar terms, which adds to the tense atmosphere of the narrative.

8. Emotional manipulation and unresolved tension – One character grapples with the realization of emotional attachment and confusion, leading to a sense of being trapped by their own feelings.

9. Body image and self-disgust – The characters engage in moments of self-reflection and self-disgust, with particular focus on one character’s feelings toward their own body and actions.

10. Sexual Tension: Themes of sexual attraction and desire are present in the narrative, though not fully explored. There are moments where characters’ desires and personal boundaries are pushed.

11. Objectification and Discomfort: A recurring theme of objectifying others, as well as discomfort from one character’s reaction to the other’s physical appearance.

12. Mental and Physical Exhaustion: The characters experience emotional exhaustion and some physical discomfort related to hangovers, disorientation, and tension-filled interactions.

13. Emotional Manipulation: Subtle undertones of manipulation or controlling behaviors through physical closeness, mixed with sarcasm and emotional withdrawal.

14. Overt Emotional Detachment: One of the characters exhibits a significant emotional detachment, leading to a sense of isolation and frustration in the other, which may be interpreted as emotionally unhealthy.

15. Inappropriate Behavior: There are situations involving physical intimacy, which are described in a way that could be uncomfortable or concerning for some readers.

16. Mental Health Struggles: Themes of internal conflict, frustration, and emotional turmoil are explored, especially regarding self-image and internal conflicts.

17. Physical proximity and touch: Characters engage in physical closeness, including intimate gestures, that may feel inappropriate to some readers due to the nature of their relationship dynamic.

Please approach this content with caution if any of the above themes may be triggering. This story contains emotional and psychological complexity and may not be suitable for all readers.

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Status: Draft #1

Last Edited: November 27, 2024

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Reine blinked, still groggy, his head thudding like a drum after a wild night of self-destruction. He tried to focus, tried to make sense of the haze surrounding him. Okay, okay. Think, think. His eyes wandered around the room, and that’s when it hit him. This wasn’t his usual messy hotel room or some dimly lit club suite.

No. This was a dorm room.

A fucking dorm room.

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His gaze landed on the table across from him, and he saw the familiar minimalist setup: a small study desk, some books scattered around, a backpack haphazardly thrown beside it. It didn’t take a genius to figure it out, and yet… How the hell did I end up here?

His thoughts were still too foggy to process it, but then there was that sound again—the unmistakable rustle of blankets and Deon’s voice, muffled but still somehow carrying an irritated edge.

“Take a bath!” she snapped, or at least as much as Deon could snap. Her voice was still soft, but the words came out sharper than usual. Louder, too. Reine froze, blinking a couple of times, trying to decide whether he had hallucinated that.

Wait. Take a bath?

Was she—was she ordering him around? Her? The one who never showed any emotion? The one who was always like a cold, detached machine?

He looked over at her, lying under the blanket like a cocoon. She had her face buried in the folds of the sheets, and her voice sounded… whiny? No, not whiny, but… like a normal, somewhat frustrated human being. Reine felt his brow twitch, unsure whether to laugh or just fall into a pit of confusion.

But before he could process more, Deon let out another frustrated groan. This time, the words were clearer, and they came out like a command, like an order from some cranky queen.

“Bath!” she repeated, only this time, it was louder. Still soft, but it had a certain exasperation to it that was almost endearing—if he wasn’t in such a whirlwind of confusion.

Reine stood frozen for a second, unsure how to respond. Was she serious? Was this some kind of joke? A weird dream? But no, this was Deon, the human brick wall who rarely showed anything resembling emotion. And now she was getting all… frustrated?

Reine glanced around the room again. Yep, definitely a dorm room. His senses were finally catching up with him. He had somehow ended up in her room. And he couldn’t remember how he’d gotten there. Had he… dragged himself here in some stupor? Did she take him in, nursing him back to health? No, no, that’s… no. That’s not it. But why?

His heart raced for a second, confusion hitting him full-force. What the hell happened last night?

“Seriously, take a bath!” she added, muffled by the blankets but still loud enough to penetrate his hungover brain. And then, just as suddenly, there was the silence of a person trying to fall back asleep, her body shifting under the covers with an almost tired, defeated sigh.

Reine didn’t know what to think anymore. Deon? Giving orders? Acting like… human? No, no, no. This was all wrong. His mind was trying to piece together fragments of the night before, but it just wasn’t coming together. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his brain.

She had a point, though. His own body was drenched in a thick layer of regret, sweat, and whatever else he’d managed to get himself into last night. His mouth tasted like death, his stomach was twisted in knots, and he could already feel the lingering headache pounding against his skull.

Reine looked down at himself. Half-naked. Disoriented. And… in her bed?

God, this was a nightmare. How could he face her now? How could he deal with the reality that he’d been—whatever—with Deon in her room? What did this mean?

Before he could spiral further, Deon’s voice, muffled but clear in its demand, echoed through his brain. Take a bath.

He rubbed his temples, feeling the sweat and grime of last night threatening to make him sick. His head hurt too much to process this mess. Fuck it. I’ll just take a bath. Clear my head. Then figure out what the hell is going on here.

He stood up quickly, the floor beneath him unsteady as if the ground itself was spinning. As he moved toward the bathroom, his mind kept running wild. But no matter how much he tried to focus on the thoughts of last night, all he could hear was Deon’s frustrated voice.

And he had no fucking clue what was happening. But right now, it didn’t matter. He needed to shower, get his head on straight, and hopefully forget this bizarre morning before it ruined the rest of his life.

With a long sigh, Reine walked into the bathroom, the faint sound of Deon’s breathing following him as the door clicked shut behind him.

The moment the water hit him, he closed his eyes, trying to wash the confusion and embarrassment away. If only it were that easy.

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Due to Royal Road's content policies, some chapters of God's Protagonist are not available in full on this platform. However, links to the full chapters are provided at the end of each chapter for readers who wish to continue on the official website. Please heed the detailed warnings provided for each chapter before proceeding.

The official website also hosts the complete story, free from platform restrictions.

Link to Full Chapter: Thread 8 – Cold Hands, Warm Hearts. [0.5. Red Thread of Fate]

Official Website: God’s Protagonist by Fang Dokja

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